By Mike London
Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE – Carson cornerback Cruise Montieth admits to being named after Tom Cruise, the 5-foot-7 “Top Gun” actor, but he probably would be more at home at a Bassmasters tournament or Charlotte Motor Speedway than in Hollywood.
But Cruise suits him fine, as in a cruise missile. Just like the missile, he can deliver an explosive payload over a long distance with high precision.
Montieth is a track and field sprinter. He’s best in the 200 and 400.
In football, he’s always been a cornerback.
Fast white guys normally get steered by coaches at an early age to receiver or safety or maybe even running back, anywhere but cornerback, a position where 99 percent of NFL players have been Black for the last 25 years.
Montieth’s coaches through the years allowed him to stay and thrive at the position he loved to play.
Playing the corner requires two attributes — speed and courage. Montieth has those things.
“Cruise is a corner,” Carson head coach Jonathan Lowe said. “That’s what he is. That’s who he is. There’s never been any thought about moving him to another position. He’s aggressive. He’s tough mentally and physically and has made himself an integral part of our defense. He’s not only quick, he plays corner with great technique. You could make a teaching video from filming Cruise.”
Montieth isn’t large. He’s listed at 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, and rosters tend to give players an extra inch and a few pounds.
Lowe recalled one play this season when a bigger Northwest Cabarrus receiver was able to out-stretch Montieth for a spectacular, one-handed catch, but even on that play, Montieth was in great position.
Montieth is a Clemson Tigers and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. His favorite NFL player is Steeler defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who can play safety or cornerback.
“I grew up playing YFL with the North Rowan guys,” Montieth said. “I’m still friends with athletes like (North’s super receiver) A’son Best. We didn’t play North this year, but we did get to scrimmage them in the Jamboree. It was fun seeing those guys.”
Montieth became a varsity starter for Carson as a junior last season. He had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, 14 pass breakups and 48 tackles.
“He’s a tough tackler,” Lowe said. “A real ankle-biter. And he’ll come all the way across the field to hit you.”
Montieth made 11 tackles against West Rowan, mostly against the Falcons’ rugged running backs.
Montieth produced another eye-catching game as Carson (5-5) closed the regular season by mashing neighbor South Rowan 35-0. He made his first two interceptions of 2025 and he made a sack on a corner blitz that Carson has been working hard on. That was his eighth TFL of the season, so he’s more than just a coverage guy.
“The impressive thing about that sack was how far he sprinted to make it,” Lowe said. “He was the boundary corner and made the tackle on the other side of the field.”
One of Montieth’s interceptions against South was routine. He looked like an outfielder waiting to catch a fly ball.
But the other pick required athletic ability, instincts and awareness.
“I dropped back into coverage and I could see it was going to be comeback route,” Montieth said. “Jase Overcash got a hand in there and tipped it. I was able to catch the ball right on the sideline. I did a toe tap and was able to stay in bounds.”
While he produced a remarkable statistical game against South. Montieth and Lowe agree that Montieth’s most impactful outing was against East Rowan. He was the key to that night’s defensive game plan.
East quarterback Julian Cauble and receiver Jason Bonds had torched Salisbury and nearly beaten West Rowan with an aerial onslaught. They had accounted for six touchdowns in a two-week span before taking on the Cougars.
“When a team has a dude, we can put Cruise on him,” Lowe said.
Bonds had four catches for 37 yards, and Carson beat East easily. It was a good matchup. Bonds and Montieth are similar in size. Montieth was credited with six pass breakups.
“Wherever 15 (Bonds) went, I went,” Montieth said. “Even when 15 lined up in the slot, I moved over to cover him. There’s no doubt in my mind, that was my best game, even better than the South game.”
While Montieth is a senior, there still will be a Montieth on the Carson roster in 2026. Cruise’s brother, Laden, is one of the standouts on the jayvee team. He’s not a cornerback, but he’ll likely be in the Carson backfield. The plan is for Laden to be the replacement at fullback for Trip Marcum in Carson’s veer offense.
“Every day, I try to set a good example for my brother,” Cruise said. “Practice as hard as you can, play as hard as you can, and even if you lose, keep your head up.”
Carson’s first playoff opponent is Montgomery Central.
