Little Elm’s Daniel Montemayor Returns From Major Injury With College Opportunities Already on the Table

Little Elm senior offensive lineman Daniel Montemayor enters the 2026 season with something to prove.

The Class of 2027 guard stands 6 foot 1 and 295 pounds and already holds college offers from Austin College and Howard Payne, along with additional recruiting interest. But Montemayor’s senior season means more than adding offers to his list.

His junior year was cut short after he tore his ACL and both meniscuses during Week 2 against Walnut Grove. Since then, his focus has been on returning to the level of play he showed before the injury and proving that he can once again be a difference maker in the trenches.

On film, Montemayor plays with the type of natural physicality that cannot be manufactured.

He is an aggressive, high motor interior offensive lineman who consistently looks for work. At nearly 300 pounds, Montemayor has the frame and strength to handle defenders at the first level, but he also shows the ability to climb to linebackers and create problems at the second level.

His game projects particularly well into gap schemes and downhill run concepts. Montemayor can generate movement on base blocks, stays engaged through contact and plays with the mentality needed from an interior lineman. In pass protection, he also shows good awareness when uncovered, keeping his eyes active and finding additional work rather than standing idle.

Another encouraging part of Montemayor’s film is his spatial awareness along the offensive line. He understands how to operate alongside his center and tackle and displays the ability to play connected with the rest of the unit rather than functioning as an individual blocker.

As his athleticism and movement continue to develop, those natural traits give him the foundation to become a quality collegiate guard.

Montemayor has credited offensive line coach Joe Looney with playing an important role in his comeback both physically and mentally. Looney brings extensive experience to Little Elm after an eight year NFL career that included 42 starts and multiple seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He joined the Little Elm staff as the program’s offensive line coach in 2025.

Little Elm itself is continuing through a new chapter under head coach Keiston Alexander, who is currently listed by the district and the football program as the Lobos’ head coach. Alexander arrived after coaching stops throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area, while the staff around him includes assistant head coach Kevin Francis, recruiting coordinator Ranthony Texada and offensive coordinator Tony Newsome.

For Montemayor, however, this season is ultimately about finishing what was interrupted a year ago.

The college opportunities are already beginning to arrive. The size and physical temperament are already there. Now, with a healthy senior season ahead of him, Montemayor has an opportunity to show college programs exactly what kind of offensive lineman he can become.

His comeback may end up becoming one of the more compelling stories to follow on the Little Elm offensive line this fall.