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Major colleges vying for Morgan?s services
STEVEN LIENERT, Special to the Local News
09/21/2006
http://www.dailylocal.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1671&dept_id=81422&newsid=17227439
COATESVILLE -- Coatesville defensive end Derrick Morgan has some big decisions to make in his near future, but none may be more important than his choice of underwear Saturday morning.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Morgan is being recruited by six big-time Division I football programs, including Penn State and Ohio State. Morgan, bound for Columbus this weekend for his official visit to Ohio State, will be in the stands for the Big Ten Conference clash between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes.
"Coach (Ron) Vanderlinden told me to where blue underwear," Morgan said. "He told me to enjoy myself, but not to enjoy it too much."
Vanderlinden, the linebackers coach at Penn State, hopes to get the opportunity to enjoy life on the gridiron with Morgan as much as Coatesville head coach Tom Nichols has.
"He?s a real intelligent kid," Nichols said of Morgan. "He?s going to go where he feels comfortable."
And he?s going to go sooner rather than later.
Morgan has applied for early graduation so he can get a jump on his college career. He currently studies a curriculum of honors courses and carries a 3.8 GPA. And he scored a 1,380 on the SATs.
"It gives you a six-month head start," Morgan said. "I talked to all the college coaches and they said that the players have a smooth transition. It?s going to be hard at first, but I?ll just have to get used to it."
Just like last year -- when Morgan was asked to jump into the offense and become a fullback. Now he opens holes for Red Raiders? tailback Kieron Hutchenson, and sometimes even gets to carry the ball himself.
"He?ll just lower his shoulder and get four yards," Coatesville offensive lineman Andrew Scott said. "Derrick?s a great leader and has one of the greatest work ethics. He?s just an animal on the field. You can depend on him in big-time situations."
As well as in situations that demand a lighter side.
"Derrick has a one heck of a sense of humor," Scott added. "He likes to play jokes on players, especially the offensive line. He?ll call us ?Fats? and say we don?t block well enough for him even though he gets 100 yards. But it?s all in good fun."
Derrick?s happy-go-lucky attitude endears him to teammates, including those he just met.
Coatesville receiver Khalil Brewer has played ball with Morgan since their middle school days. Over the summer, he and Morgan attended a football camp at North Carolina State, and the way other players reacted to Morgan stuck with Brewer.
"Everyone wanted to be like him," Brewer said. "He makes you play better. When you watch tape after the game, you see he doesn?t give up.
"I?ve been playing football with him for five years and ever since he came I was like, ?Derrick is going to be in the NFL one day.?"
But while Morgan?s teammates speak very highly of him, they?re split on where he should spend his next four years.
"My dad and I are big Penn State fans," Scott said. "I really think he can help that defense."
The Lions are certainly in the mix, but so are Miami, Boston College, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State.
"I?d like to see him play for N.C. State," Brewer said. "Their facilities for football are amazing."
The decision, however, ultimately sits with Morgan, and in the meantime he?s just enjoying the ride.
"Everybody is on the same level," Morgan said. "Right now, I?m just going to make my visits. No coaches are pressuring me to make a decision. I?m not really getting pressure from anyone right now."
But the clock is ticking, especially for someone who wants to start college in January.
"I?ll probably make my decision in November, or early December at the latest," Morgan said.
Meanwhile, Morgan and the Red Raiders are focused on success at the high school level.
"We?ve got a real good shot," Morgan said. "We have to get all the mistakes out of the way. We have a couple of tough games coming up."
Morgan is especially looking forward to playing Downingtown East, with hopes of exacting revenge for last season?s loss.
"They beat us last year and we beat them in ninth and 10th grade," Morgan said. "We want to try to go out on a win."
A lot of that success rests on a defense anchored by Morgan, but he wouldn?t be successful without a supporting cast he calls the ?Wreck Shop.?
"That?s the secondary," Morgan said. "They are stepping up. Since the season began, we haven?t really given up big plays. I?m getting the rush and they?re making the interceptions."
Red Raider fans better get a good look now because, come January, Morgan will be suiting up in different colors.
"I?m going to miss having fun with him," Scott said. "You can?t replace a guy like Derrick Morgan. He?s a great guy to be around."