(Youth1 Football) â Though Tanner Morgan wonât graduate from high school for another five years heâs being touted as one of Kentuckyâs top prospects for the class of 2017.
The right-handed quarterback, who is a Union native, is already making an impact on Ryle High Schoolâs football program while continuing to star for the eight-grade Union Raiders. Morganâs efforts during the last four months have certainly garnered attention, enough that it wouldnât be a stretch to see him starting for Ryleâs varsity team in 2013.
Morgan, 13, began to gain momentum this summer when he was asked to participate in a 7-on-7 against Holmes High School. Ryleâs varsity offense went three and out on its first three possessions prompting the coaching staff to use Morgan. He responded by leading Ryle to a pair of first downs and a touchdown, whetting the appetites of varsity coach Bryson Warner and freshman coach Fred Bernier.
The duo asked Morgan to play on Ryleâs freshman team and it didnât take long for him to prove he belonged. Morgan, who has also earned the rank of Junior Academic All-American, threw 11 touchdown passes through his first six games with 6A Ryle heading into this weekend. Heâs also thrown 17 touchdown passes in seven games for the Raiders.
âHe has worked really hard since I have known him to take the lessons that he is being taught and make them part of his game,â said Mike Parker, who is Morganâs quarterback coach. âHe seems to really take coaching well and I canât ever remember having to make the same correction twice.â
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Morgan was selected as a Kentucky Middle School Football Association All-State member as seventh grader in addition to starting for Kentuckyâs Football University National Championship team. He led Kentucky to victories over Illinois and Minnesota, earning an invitation to play in the Junior Rank Junior Academic All-American Game. Morgan combined for over 150 yards of offensive and recorded a rushing touchdown despite being the only 12âyear old quarterback in that game.
Despite all the attention he has received, Morgan remains grounded.
âMy friends are supportive of me and I try to lead by example,â Morgan said. âI am the first one at school in the morning and the first one at football practice, and the last to leave. I try to stay humble and respectful of my teammates.â
Morgan, who is a relative of former University of Kentucky quarterback and first-round NFL pick Tim Couch, has had a goal of being one of the best quarterbacks in the country since he was very young. That hard work has already paid dividends and heâs hoping for a few more.
âHeâs been selected to train with George Whitfield this summer in California, and I had been requested to send a personal highlight tape to Trent Dilfer and the Elite 11 staff,â said Morganâs father, Ted.
Whitfield is a world-renowned quarterback coach. The Elite 11 is a quarterback competition for the top 11 prep high school senior quarterbacks in the country that airs on ESPN. Since 1999, the competition has helped launch the careers of many NFL quarterbacks such as Andrew Luck, Tim Tebow, Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford and Josh Freeman.
While Morgan remains hopeful about getting an opportunity to participate in the Elite 11, he isnât going to let it dominate his life.
âI donât worry about pressure,â he said. âI try to focus on what the defense is doing and how we can attack it. I try to make sure I do my job and lead the team by example.â
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