Shane Morris

Shane Morris

Morris in 2013
Michigan Wolverines No. 7
Position Quarterback
Class Senior
Major Sports Management
Career history
College
Bowl games
High school De La Salle
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-08-04) August 4, 1994
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg)
Career highlights and awards

Shane Ryan Morris (born August 4, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. He is a left-handed quarterback known for his strong arm. He was a highly touted five-star prospect from De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, Michigan, until he endured mononucleosis midway through his senior season. He played in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game.

Morris saw limited action as a freshman until starting in the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in place of starter Devin Gardner. During the 2014 season, he started one game and suffered a concussion. He did not appear in any games during the 2015 season. He redshirted during the 2015 season is currently a redshirt junior and the third-string quarterback (behind Wilton Speight and John O'Korn) for the 2016 Michigan Wolverines football team.

Early life

Morris' was born to Bruce and Jennifer Morris on August 4, 1994.[1][2] Morris has two younger siblings, Brent and Gracie [3] Morris, who quarterbacked the all-boys[3] De La Salle Collegiate, led the 2009 freshman team to the Catholic League championship before being called up to finish the season with the varsity team. When the starting quarterback was injured in the fourth quarter of the scoreless district final game against Grosse Pointe South High School, he was put in the game because the backup had a broken thumb. He led the team to victory in that game and 27–6 victory over Southfield High School in the Division 2 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) regional playoff game before losing 12–3 to Inkster High School in the state semifinals.[4][5] This was the second straight year that future teammate Gardner led Inkster to the state championships.[6]

As a sophomore, he totaled 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while helping De La Salle achieve a 9–3 record in 2010.[7] He led the team to the MHSAA Division 2 quarterfinals where they lost to eventual state champion Farmington Hills Harrison 33–23.[8] He began getting scholarship offers starting with Cincinnati, but as a lifelong Michigan fan, he hoped for an offer from Michigan once they abandoned Rich Rodriguez' spread offense and hired head coach Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges.[4] Before Michigan made him an offer on March 28, 2011, he also received offers from Bowling Green and Toledo.[7] He gave Michigan a verbal commitment on May 10, 2011.[9] He became Michigan's first commit of the class of 2013 in order to eliminate recruiting distractions.[10] Once he committed, he actively recruited prospects for the team.[4]

He participated as one of the four quarterbacks in the July 2011 Gridiron Kings event at Disney World (with the top 24 quarterbacks participating in the 2011 Elite 11),[11] but he was overshadowed by Matt Davis.[12] As a junior in the fall of 2011, he passed for 1,684 yards and 19 touchdowns.[13] He led the team to the 2011 Division 1 MHSAA state quarterfinals where they lost 9–6 to eventual state champions Cass Technical High School.[14][15] Prior to his senior season, he was regarded as one of the best quarterback prospects produced by the state of Michigan, a state whose greatest quarterback products have been Gary Danielson, Earl Morrall, Craig Morton and James Ninowski.[16] From the start of ESPN's rankings with the class of 2006 through the class of 2012, no Michigan quarterback ever ranked in the top 100.[16] The closest were Rob Bolden (112th, 2010) and Gardner (128th, 2010).[16][17] Prior to his senior year, he was ranked as ESPN's 37th best and Rivals.com's 17th best prospect and rising in the national class of 2013.[18][19] Entering his senior season, he and Max Browne were the only two 5-star rated quarterbacks in the class of 2013 by Rivals.com.[19] A few weeks into his senior season, he had risen to 26th at ESPN,[1] but suffered season-ending mononucleosis with five games remaining on the schedule.[20] By the beginning of November, he was the top quarterback in the country according to some evaluators.[21] He ended his high school career ranked 127th by ESPN and 81st by Rivals.com.[9][22]

During the summer of 2012, he was at first unable to qualify for the 2012 Elite 11 in his home region, but participated in a second regional contest and was named MVP, earning an invitation.[18] Morris was described as having the strongest arm of the 25 quarterbacks at the Elite 11 finals,[23] although he did not finish in the top 11 of the competition.[24] On September 6, 2012, he was the first quarterback selected to participate in the January 4, 2013 Under Armour All-America Game for high school seniors.[1] As he was attempting to regain momentum following his battle with mononucleosis, he was reported to have been unimpressive in the week of practice and in the game.[25] In the game, he was notable for being the recipient of a vicious tackle by Matthew Thomas,[26] who was the No. 1 ranked outside linebacker in the class of 2013 according to ESPN.[27] The Detroit News named him as the top prospect in the state of Michigan on their 2013 Blue Chip List.[28]

By January 2013, Morris had been so inundated with media requests, that he chose to discontinue any direct media contact (although he was an active social media participant) until he arrived at Michigan.[3] On February 7, 2013, Morris was the first player to commit in writing to Michigan on signing day with a 7:01 a.m submission of his National Letter of Intent.[29]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
Shane Morris
QB		 Warren, Michigan De La Salle (MI) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192.5 lb (87.3 kg) 4.63 May 10, 2011 
Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 84
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 40 (national), 4 (QB)   Rivals: 81 (national), 4 (QB, pro-style), 2 (MI)  ESPN: 127 (national), 8 (QB, pocket passer), 3 (MI)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College

2013 season

Morris at the 2013 Michigan - Ohio State rivalry game

After Denard Robinson left for the NFL, sophomore Russell Bellomy, the only scholarship quarterback on the roster other than Devin Gardner, endured a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.[30] The injury left the team without a healthy backup who had ever taken an official snap.[31] True freshman Morris competed with redshirt freshman walk-on Brian Cleary for the backup role.[32] On August 22, 2013 as a true freshman, Morris was named backup quarterback to redshirt junior Gardner.[33][34] He made his debut for the 2013 team in the season opener against Central Michigan.[35] Passing for 59 yards on 4-for-6 passing,[36] he was one of 11 true freshmen to play in the game for Michigan.[37] Morris also played in the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry on November 2 against the 2013 Michigan State Spartans, completing only one pass (on three attempts) for six yards.[38] Gardner suffered a turf toe injury prior to the 2013 team's 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Kansas State. With Gardner held out of practices, Morris got extensive work.[39] Morris started in place of Gardner in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, compiling 196 yards on 24–38 passing.[40]

2014 season

After Michigan began the season with a 2–2 record under senior starter Gardner and with head coach Hoke under pressure, Morris started in the September 27 Little Brown Jug rivalry game against Minnesota. Michigan lost the game 30–14, earning its third loss earlier than it had ever done in the 135 year history of Michigan football. The 16-point loss was the largest loss to Minnesota since 1977 and the largest to Minnesota at home since 1962.[41] On September 30, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon revealed that Morris suffered a concussion during the game but still played after showing signs of a concussion. This revelation sparked calls for Brandon to be fired, including a protest on the Michigan campus.[42] When Gardner was injured in week 7 (October 11) against Penn State, Russell Bellomy and not Morris was the replacement, due to what was presumed to be lingering injuries (high-ankle sprain and/or concussion) to Morris.[43][44]

2015 season

In the final days before the 2015 Michigan Wolverines football team began its season for new head coach Jim Harbaugh against Utah, Morris was in a quarterback battle with incoming graduate student transfer Jake Rudock, who had started the prior two seasons for Iowa. On Monday before the Thursday September 3 game, Harbaugh would not name his starter.[45] Rudock started the game.[46][47] After the second game, against Oregon State, there was controversy when Wilton Speight took the mopup snaps during the 35–7 victory instead of Morris. Harbaugh explained that since Speight had already used his redshirt season and Morris had not, there was no reason for Morris to lose a season unless it was for meaningful snaps, but that Morris is the #2 quarterback.[48] When Rudock was sidelined in the third quarter with the team trailing in the October 31, 2015, Little Brown Jug rivalry game against Minnesota, Speight engineered the game-winning drive via his first touchdown pass with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.[49] Harbaugh explained that Speight had earned the backup role in practice in the preceding weeks.[50]

2016 season

2016 Spring practice began on February 29 with a highly anticipated quarterback battle between Morris, junior transfer and favorite John O'Korn, Speight, true freshman Brandon Peters and redshirt freshman Alex Malzone.[51][52] As Spring practice wound down in late March, Speight, O'Korn and Morris seemed to be the leading three,[53] but in that order.[54] O'Korn and Speight were the starters in the April 1 Spring game, while Morris lined up at wide receiver early and threw an interception for a touchdown as a quarterback.[55][56]

On September 3 before the opening game against Hawaii, Speight was named as the starting quarterback.[57] Morris entered that game for Michigan in the fourth quarter after Michigan had built a 49–0 lead behind Speight and O'Korn had led the team on a subsequent scoring drive. Morris went 4–4 on Michigan's seventh consecutive touchdown-scoring drive.[58][59][60]

References

  1. 1 2 3 VanHaaren, Tom (2012-09-06). "Morris receives UA Game jersey". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  2. ↑ "Shane Morris 7". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  3. 1 2 3 Jennings, Chantel (2013-01-28). "Commits negotiate social media: Twitter, Facebook give fans inside glimpse but sometimes get unwieldy". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  4. 1 2 3 McCabe, Mick (2012-08-19). "Michigan's No. 1 prep quarterback, Shane Morris, excels on field and in selling recruits". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  5. ↑ "2009 Playoff Scores". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  6. ↑ Josh Helmholdt (2009-12-02). "Devin Gardner turns to future". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  7. 1 2 Helmholdt, Josh (2011-03-30). "Recruiting: Michigan offers De La Salle sophomore Shane Morris". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  8. ↑ "MHSAA Championships 2010 Division 2 Football" (PDF). Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  9. 1 2 "Shane Morris". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  10. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2011-05-17). "QB recruit Shane Morris' commitment to Michigan thrilled coach Brady Hoke". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  11. ↑ Newberg, Jamie (2011-07-24). "QBs get big shot at Gridiron Kings: With Elite 11 taking QB spotlight, four making most of opportunity here". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  12. ↑ Luginbill, Tom (2011-07-25). "Matt Davis better than advertised: Texas A&M QB commit makes strong case for inclusion in ESPNU 150". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  13. ↑ Parish, Christopher (2012-01-12). "Elite 11 Watch: Star southpaw Shane Morris". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Tim (2012-07-18). "Recruiting: Michigan QB commit Shane Morris has been testing himself this summer". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  15. ↑ "MHSAA Championships 2011 Division 1" (PDF). Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  16. 1 2 3 Parish, Christopher (2012-02-03). "The legend of Shane Morris continues". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  17. ↑ "2010 ESPN 150". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  18. 1 2 Shanker, Jared (2012-05-04). "Morris earns Elite 11 finals nod: De La Salle (Warren, Mich.) signal-caller takes top billing at Columbus regional". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  19. 1 2 Baumgardner, Nick (2012-08-20). "Shane Morris now a five-star QB per Rivals.com, Michigan keeps five '13 commits in Top 100". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  20. ↑ VanHaaren, Tom (2012-09-19). "Top recruit Shane Morris has mono". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  21. ↑ Stavig, Rick (2012-11-09). "College Football Recruiting: Top 20 Quarterbacks". Rant Sports. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  22. ↑ "2013 ESPN 150". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  23. ↑ Farrell, Mike (2012-07-22). "Woulard, Morris lead pack into final day of Elite 11 competition". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  24. ↑ Fischer, Bryan (2012-07-23). "Asiantii Woulard takes home MVP honors at Elite 11". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  25. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (2013-01-05). "Michigan QB recruit Shane Morris struggles, completes 2-of-10 passes in all-star game". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  26. ↑ Elliott, Bud (2013-01-04). "Matthew Thomas destroys Michigan QB recruit Shane Morris". SB Nation. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  27. ↑ "Matthew Thomas". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  28. ↑ Markowski, Tom (2013-01-17). "Detroit News Blue Chip list features five from Cass Tech". Detroit News. World News Inc.,. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  29. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2013-02-07). "Warren De La Salle's Shane Morris, 2013 class set stage for Michigan's bright outlook". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  30. ↑ Keith, Ted (2013-07-25). "Shane Morris: QB DE LA SALLE HIGH". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  31. ↑ Rothstein , Michael (2013-08-12). "Lack of depth makes Gardner more valuable". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  32. ↑ Slagter, Josh (2013-08-12). "Michigan QB Brian Cleary: Competition 'friendly' and 'serious' with Shane Morris to back up Devin Gardner". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  33. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2013-08-22). "Shane Morris named Michigan's backup quarterback". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  34. ↑ Biggers, Adam (2013-08-23). "Michigan Football: No Shock That True Frosh Shane Morris Is Wolverines' No. 2 QB". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  35. ↑ "Michigan rolls in highest-scoring opener since 1905". ESPN. 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  36. ↑ "Cent Michigan 9 (0-1, 0-1 away); (17) Michigan 59 (1-0, 1-0 home)". ESPN. 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  37. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2013-09-01). "Derrick Green leads Michigan in rushing, Shane Morris gets work and 11 true freshmen see time". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  38. ↑ "(21) Michigan 6 (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten); (22) Michigan State 29 (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  39. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2013-12-11). "Michigan's Shane Morris to see extended QB reps with Devin Gardner on the mend". MLive.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
  40. ↑ "Kansas State handles Michigan for first bowl win in 11 years". ESPN. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  41. ↑ "Michigan loses to Minnesota; 1st time with 3 losses by October". ESPN. 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  42. ↑ Jesse, David (October 1, 2014). "U-M students call for AD Dave Brandon's job at rally". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  43. ↑ Quinn, Brendan F. (2014-10-11). "Devin Gardner suffers apparent leg injury, replaced by Russell Bellomy in Michigan-Penn State". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  44. ↑ Bender, Bill (2014-10-11). "Four takeaways from Michigan's much-needed win against Penn State". Sporting News. Retrieved 2014-10-12.
  45. ↑ Murphy, Dan (2015-08-31). "Wolverines list starting QB as Jake Rudock or Shane Morris". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  46. ↑ "Jim Harbaugh era at Michigan opens with 24-17 loss at Utah". ESPN. 2015-09-04. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  47. ↑ Murphy, Dan (2015-09-04). "Utah tops Michigan as familiar problems plague Jim Harbaugh debut". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  48. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2015-09-13). "Jim Harbaugh explains why Wilton Speight took snaps over Shane Morris on Saturday". MLive.com. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  49. ↑ "No. 15 Michigan stuffs Minnesota at 1-yard line as time expires". ESPN. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  50. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2015-11-01). "Wilton Speight now Michigan's No. 2 quarterback, Shane Morris is third string". MLive.com. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  51. ↑ Kercheval, Ben (2016-02-24). "Who Has the Edge in Michigan's Quarterback Battle?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  52. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2016-02-22). "John O'Korn, Shane Morris, someone else? Michigan's QB 'cage match' set to begin". MLive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  53. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2016-03-26). "Wilton Speight, John O'Korn, Shane Morris are Michigan's top QBs, but no one has pulled away". MLive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  54. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2016-03-29). "Michigan's top three QBs all want to start, but say the competition is far from over". MLive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  55. ↑ "Spring Fling". MLive.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  56. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2016-04-02). "Wilton Speight best of QBs, leads 2 TD drives in Michigan spring game". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  57. ↑ Foltin, Lindsey (2016-09-03). "Jim Harbaugh had a strange way of pumping up Michigan's new QB". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  58. ↑ Burchfield, Will (2016-09-04). "The Michigan QB Battle That Never Was". WWJ-TV. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  59. ↑ Robinson, Geoff (2016-09-03). "Michigan blog recap: Wolverines rout Hawaii, 63-3". Detroit News. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  60. ↑ "Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors 0-2, 0-1 Away 3; 63 7 Michigan Wolverines 1-0, 1-0 Home". ESPN. 2016-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
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