UTC's Brandon Morgan
photo by UTC Sports Information
Brandon Morgan #73 set to pass block
photo by Dale Rutemeyer
It’s a family tradition in the Morgan household to play in
the trenches where the football wars are won or lost on gridirons in
the fall.
And it has been a successful tradition.
Owner of a deep voice and pleasant smile along with solid
football technique on his 6-2, 300-pound frame, Mocs redshirt junior Brandon
Morgan and his O-Line (Offensive Line) teammates are ready to win the
battle in the trenches come Thursday night as the Mocs look to pull an upset at
Central Michigan in the start of a long first weekend of college football
nationwide.
He is part of a young, but talented O-line which has from left tackle to right tackle Corey Levin (#62, 6-5, 285, Soph.), Brandon Morgan (#73, 6-2, 300 Redshirt Junior), Jacob Revis (#52, 6-3, 295, Redshirt Fresh,), Chris Mayes (#55, 6-3, 300, Senior) and Hunter Townson (#70, 6-4, 285 Redshirt Fresh.) who will be called on Thursday to protect quarterback Jacob Huesman and open holes for running backs including Keon Williams, Marquis Green, Derrick Craine and Richardre Bagley.
A three-year starter at left tackle for football power
Hoover (Ala.) High School – one state title and two state runners-up trophies –
Morgan has followed the family football tree with wins and championships.
While his grandfather, Isom Morgan Sr., was a starting
quarterback for Miles College (Birmingham) in the late 40s (and a league title),
his dad, Isom Jr. (guard at Alabama A&M and a 1972 league crown) and
brother, Bryan (center at Duke, team captain in 2010) helped develop Brandon for a life of
game day anonymity on the O-line, yet with plenty of long term rewards.
In the summer between his seventh and eighth grade years,
Morgan decided to dedicate himself to hard work and learning the finer points
of playing the line and the results speak for themselves.
“I never pushed him to play football, but once he decided to
see how good he could be, his older brother and I worked with him on blocking
technique, foot work, running the hills and weight training to prepare him for high
school football at Hoover,” said Brandon’s dad.
“We laid the ground work and helped him with the
fundamentals of the game, but once he got to high school we let the coaches in
the Hoover system take it from there.”
In the past seven years, he has the aforementioned high
school state championship ring, a 2013 Southern Conference ring with the Mocs,
yet with the disappointment of no playoff bid, and was twice selected as
all-state for Hoover and 22 starts for the Mocs.
“I am no stranger to winning or losing,” said Morgan who
turns 21 Sunday.
Yet he points heavenward when any success has come his way.
“I cannot be successful without the leading and guidance of
my Creator,” stated the Mocs junior who is at UTC on a Fellowship of Christian
Athletes Endowment Scholarship and active in the campus FCA chapter.
Not only did Mr. Morgan lay the ground work for success in
football for his sons, but he and his wife, Dr. Joneice Morgan (internal medicine),
established a Christian home early on for their children and one steeped in
academic excellence.
“We are proud that
Brandon has continued to stay true to his Christian faith now that he is on his own in college,“ said Mr. Morgan who was a
college teammate of future Pittsburgh Steeler and pro football hall of fame
wide receiver John Stallworth.
While his parents will be pleased with their son giving of
his best come Thursday night in Michigan win or lose, a win for the Mocs tomorrow
would be one of their son’s most memorable birthday presents.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net