Joey Morgan '20 Recruiting Profile

    I became involved in football when I was five years old. However, I became truly passionate about the sport when I started to play quarterback in the eighth grade. There was something about being a leader on the field and having the ability to control the outcome of every play that made me so devoted to the sport and position. To me, it is a joy to analyze the defense, predict what they are going to do, and have the faith in myself to alter a play at the line of scrimmage if needed. The ability to lead in these situations on the football field has translated to me understanding how to motivate others, as well as deal with adversity off the turf. I played many different positions while growing up. I had to adapt to multiple coaching styles, as well as learn how to work with a diverse range of individuals. All of these skills and qualities have taught me a great deal as to what type of person I will be in the future: one who not only leads, but also knows how to improvise and adapt to any situation that gets thrown my way.

    My freshman year of high school was a primary example of this. During this football season, I was promoted to the starting sophomore quarterback. Once I became a sophomore, I was unable to maintain my starting position based on my size. Knowing how much I love the game and the dedication I have to any team I play for, I found a way to get on the field again. I changed my position to slot receiver. I found that this position also gave me the opportunity to be successful and take on a leadership role within my position group. Although I did still have an intense desire to return to the quarterback positon, my new-found skill set has allowed me to do what it is that I love to do: compete, lead, and adapt.

    My last semester of junior year, I was  insatiably hungry to get back out on the field. However, while I was  away from the game in the offseason, I still found a way to do what I love. By gathering some of my teammates for offseason workouts and 7v7 competitions, as well as initiating collaboration in the classroom, I have been able to lead and learn in ways I never thought I could have. By translating what I learned on the turf to what I do in other aspects of life, I have become happier, healthier, and overall a more successful young man. But this is nowhere near my pinnacle.

     I want to continue on with both my athletic career and academic career long after my senior year of high school. My goals by the end of my senior year as a student-athlete are to end with at least a 4.5 GPA, as well as receive some kind of academic and/or athletic scholarship as I take my education to the collegiate level. Once I reach that point, my aspirations for college are to remain on the dean’s list all semesters in attendance, as well as graduate Summa Cum Laude with a double major in psychology and communication. I know that through my experiences both on and off the football field, I will be able to attain these goals that I have set for myself. However, without the sport I love so much, I am unsure if I would be as determined and equipped to achieve these tasks that I have set for myself in the future.