Diamond Hunter: Wild Corner
Updated September 28, 2009
Weber State's Josh Morris is an exceptionally gifted corner. Despite playing only a single year of high school football, this Wildcat is shooting up the draft boards.
By
Having a "Lock Down" anything in football is a rare opportunity. Weber State's Josh Morris has made it easier to solve some of the Wildcats defensive problems. Morris has an uncanny ability to play the cornerback position as it was intended to be played: tight coverage with discipline and speed.
He's ultra competitive, rolling through his breaks in coverage while tracking the ball down field. His combination of speed and athleticism and pure nose for the ball have continually impressed his peers. Morris is only in his third season with the 'Cats as a Juco transfer, and yet he's already a team captain as one of the best corners on the squad.
The Wildcats utilize a 4-3 defensive scheme with press coverage to maximize Morris' strengths.
He entered the Weber State program in 2007, emerging as one of the best "lock down" corners in the Big Sky and NCAA Division I FCS. The Ada, Oklahoma native played one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College for Coach Rob Green in 2006 after sitting out the 2005 campaign with a broken leg.
He is an intelligent, competitive kid that wants to do what it takes to help his team win. He's humble off the field, shying away from accolades and attention.
He likes to contribute to the community by helping to make a difference in any way he can.
He only played one year of football in high school, but his basketball experience certainly helps his defensive game.
Numbers To Know:
In 2008, he set a WSU school record for Most Pass Break Ups in a single season with 14, and had 63 total tackles and a fumble recovery. He had a career high six unassisted tackles and an interception , shutting down the much-heralded Ramses Barden as the Wildcats rolled to a 49-35 win over the Cal-Poly Mustangs in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs at Cal Poly.
He had five interceptions in the last five games of the season, including three at Idaho State in WSU's 59-27 victory.
Measurables:
Height: 6'-0"
Weight: 180
Verticle: 40 1/2 "
Accolades:
He earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2008 and was named as an Honorable Mention All-America by The Sports Network. He was named First Team Pre-Season All-America by The Sports Network and Big Sky Conference 2009 Pre-Season All-Conference First Team.
He was named to the Buck Buchanan Trophy Watch List in mid-August. Morris was picked by the Consensus Draft as one of the best cornerbacks in NCAA Division I FCS this season.
The Buzz:
Head Coach Ron McBride:
"I don't care whether it's Division I or wherever you're at, you've got to concentrate, because the game is your resume. If you're not playing well, I don't care how good you are, you're not going to get a shot. All you have to do is take care of your resume and that takes care of the rest of it."
Cornerback Josh Morris:
"I think my toughness is [my best asset]. I'm never satisfied with not winning. I don't like to lose. I like my competitive edge. I'm a quiet guy off the field but, you know once I'm on the field it's a different story."
"We had a little passing camp after one of the games for the boys in the community. I told them, 'If you come to the game, I'll take care of you and give you a tour around the locker room and meet the players. After the last game, I made sure that I made somebody else's day after the game. It did feel good to do that."
Glatzer's Loop:
Morris has already gained the attention of scouts and coaches around the country with his natural ability to stop wide receivers from making big plays on his side of the field.
He has great mental make-up for the position and is always prepared.
His competitive nature drives him to execute his assignments successfully. His drive to win on every play and sheer athleticism are what makes him a tough defender. He is relentless in his pursuit of the best receivers football has to offer and plays the run well as a solid tackler.
His speed and willingness to finish plays are his best football assets.
Draft Outlook:
He has been injury free since his freshman year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M when he broke his leg. He is a rock solid performer with a huge upside in his speed, quickness, field vision, ball tracking skills, and outward competitiveness.
He has to maintain his consistency this season. It will build the strongest and most recent building block in his gridiron portfolio. He already has a high floor, and if he continues his upward trend, his phone could be ringing next spring.
He's ultra competitive, rolling through his breaks in coverage while tracking the ball down field. His combination of speed and athleticism and pure nose for the ball have continually impressed his peers. Morris is only in his third season with the 'Cats as a Juco transfer, and yet he's already a team captain as one of the best corners on the squad.
The Wildcats utilize a 4-3 defensive scheme with press coverage to maximize Morris' strengths.
He entered the Weber State program in 2007, emerging as one of the best "lock down" corners in the Big Sky and NCAA Division I FCS. The Ada, Oklahoma native played one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College for Coach Rob Green in 2006 after sitting out the 2005 campaign with a broken leg.
He is an intelligent, competitive kid that wants to do what it takes to help his team win. He's humble off the field, shying away from accolades and attention.
He likes to contribute to the community by helping to make a difference in any way he can.
He only played one year of football in high school, but his basketball experience certainly helps his defensive game.
Numbers To Know:
In 2008, he set a WSU school record for Most Pass Break Ups in a single season with 14, and had 63 total tackles and a fumble recovery. He had a career high six unassisted tackles and an interception , shutting down the much-heralded Ramses Barden as the Wildcats rolled to a 49-35 win over the Cal-Poly Mustangs in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs at Cal Poly.
He had five interceptions in the last five games of the season, including three at Idaho State in WSU's 59-27 victory.
Measurables:
Height: 6'-0"
Weight: 180
Verticle: 40 1/2 "
Accolades:
He earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2008 and was named as an Honorable Mention All-America by The Sports Network. He was named First Team Pre-Season All-America by The Sports Network and Big Sky Conference 2009 Pre-Season All-Conference First Team.
He was named to the Buck Buchanan Trophy Watch List in mid-August. Morris was picked by the Consensus Draft as one of the best cornerbacks in NCAA Division I FCS this season.
The Buzz:
Head Coach Ron McBride:
"I don't care whether it's Division I or wherever you're at, you've got to concentrate, because the game is your resume. If you're not playing well, I don't care how good you are, you're not going to get a shot. All you have to do is take care of your resume and that takes care of the rest of it."
Cornerback Josh Morris:
"I think my toughness is [my best asset]. I'm never satisfied with not winning. I don't like to lose. I like my competitive edge. I'm a quiet guy off the field but, you know once I'm on the field it's a different story."
"We had a little passing camp after one of the games for the boys in the community. I told them, 'If you come to the game, I'll take care of you and give you a tour around the locker room and meet the players. After the last game, I made sure that I made somebody else's day after the game. It did feel good to do that."
Glatzer's Loop:
Morris has already gained the attention of scouts and coaches around the country with his natural ability to stop wide receivers from making big plays on his side of the field.
He has great mental make-up for the position and is always prepared.
His competitive nature drives him to execute his assignments successfully. His drive to win on every play and sheer athleticism are what makes him a tough defender. He is relentless in his pursuit of the best receivers football has to offer and plays the run well as a solid tackler.
His speed and willingness to finish plays are his best football assets.
Draft Outlook:
He has been injury free since his freshman year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M when he broke his leg. He is a rock solid performer with a huge upside in his speed, quickness, field vision, ball tracking skills, and outward competitiveness.
He has to maintain his consistency this season. It will build the strongest and most recent building block in his gridiron portfolio. He already has a high floor, and if he continues his upward trend, his phone could be ringing next spring.
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