Morgan accepts offer by Illinois
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[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Chris Beaven repository sports wRITER[/FONT]
CANTON - An “unknown commodity” just four months ago, Joe Morgan made himself known to all this past high school football season.
The McKinley senior made big catch after big catch, broke records and gave a glimpse at his potential. He also caught the eye of the University of Illinois, which offered him a scholarship late in the season.
Morgan verbally accepted that offer over the weekend. He is the third Stark County senior to commit to Illinois, joining Massillon defensive end Antonio James and GlenOak offensive tackle Ryan Palmer.
“I liked it up there, the atmosphere and everything,” Morgan said. “And they told me I’d play early, which I think I can.”
Morgan visited the school, located in Champaign, over the weekend. He made his decision Saturday.
“I liked the coaches, and I liked that everybody found time to talk to me, even coaches I was not familiar with. It was real friendly, nice atmosphere.”
Ron Zook, a Loudonville native and former Ohio State assistant, coaches the Illini.
Morgan considered Toledo,
while Ohio State expressed some interest. “I wanted to see if Ohio State was going to offer, but it just seemed to me they were not making a push at it,” he said.
Morgan became the first McKinley player to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He caught 39 passes for 1,018 yards with a school-record 13 touchdown catches.
“I think his best football is ahead of him,” McKinley head coach Brian Cross said. “Joe was only a starter his senior year. He’s got a lot to learn about football, and he’s a very smart kid. As he learns more about the game, coverages and running routes, he’ll get better and better. He’ll be a quality player in the Big Ten.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Morgan helped McKinley to a 12-1 season. He earned All-Ohio honors in Division I. Not bad considering he entered the season with five career catches.
“He was kind of an unknown commodity,” Cross said. “He didn’t play a ton as a junior, and even we didn’t realize how good of a player he was going to turn out to be. As a junior he was a skinny, little guy with speed. But he got bigger and stronger and faster.”
Morgan runs a 4.4 40-yard dash. He also finished third in the state in the long jump in June with a leap of 22-feet-10.
That athleticism enabled him to score nine TDs of 45 yards or longer. It also gave him confidence.
“I’m not trying to be cocky ... but I basically was doing what I already know I could do,” Morgan said. His goal now is to continue to work hard and, “try to excel in the Big Ten.” Reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail:
[email protected]
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