James Morgan (born February 28, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida International and Bowling Green before being drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
| No. 16 – Montreal Alouettes | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | February 28, 1997 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 229 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Ashwaubenon (Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin) | ||||||||||
| College: | Bowling Green (2015–2017) FIU (2018–2019) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020 / round: 4 / pick: 125 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Roster status: | Practice Squad | ||||||||||
| CFL status: | International | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career USFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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College career
editA three-star recruit from Ashwaubenon High School in suburban Green Bay, Wisconsin,[1] Morgan chose Bowling Green for coach Dino Babers.[2] Morgan redshirted his freshman year, and after that season, Babers left for Syracuse.[3] After two years of new coach Mike Jinks' Air Raid offense, Morgan decided to transfer after the 2017 season, eventually landing on Florida International as his new school.[4] Morgan emailed a transfer pitch to 20 schools, and FIU coach Bryn Renner was the only person who responded to the email.[5] Due to Morgan finishing his prelaw degree during his three years at Bowling Green, he was eligible immediately at FIU as a graduate transfer.[6]
After his senior season, Morgan played in the 2020 East–West Shrine Bowl, throwing a touchdown and helping the East team to victory.[7] He also earned an invite to the 2020 NFL Combine.[8]
College statistics
edit| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| Bowling Green Falcons | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Redshirt 
| ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 12 | 7 | 2–5 | 183 | 326 | 56.1 | 2,082 | 6.4 | 16 | 15 | 116.8 | 45 | -72 | -1.6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 6 | 1–5 | 96 | 212 | 45.3 | 1,260 | 5.9 | 9 | 7 | 102.6 | 26 | -37 | -1.4 | 0 |
| FIU Panthers | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 12 | 12 | 8–4 | 213 | 326 | 65.3 | 2,727 | 8.4 | 26 | 7 | 157.6 | 27 | -19 | -0.7 | 1 |
| 2019 | 12 | 12 | 6–6 | 207 | 357 | 58.0 | 2,560 | 7.2 | 14 | 5 | 128.4 | 32 | -40 | -1.3 | 2 |
| Career | 43 | 37 | 17−20 | 699 | 1,221 | 57.2 | 8,629 | 7.1 | 65 | 34 | 128.6 | 130 | -168 | -1.3 | 3 |
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
229 lb (104 kg) |
33+3⁄8 in (0.85 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.89 s | 1.65 s | 2.87 s | 4.64 s | 7.51 s | 29.0 in (0.74 m) |
9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
23 | |
| All values from NFL Combine[9][10] | ||||||||||||
New York Jets (first stint)
editMorgan was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round with the 125th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.[11] On August 31, 2021, Morgan was waived by the Jets.[12]
Carolina Panthers
editOn September 2, 2021, Morgan was signed to the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers.[13] He was released on November 12, 2021.[14]
Pittsburgh Steelers
editOn November 15, 2021, Morgan was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.[15] He was released on November 23, 2021.[16]
New York Jets (second stint)
editOn November 24, 2021, Morgan was signed to the Jets practice squad, but was released six days later.[17][18]
Indianapolis Colts
editOn December 6, 2021, Morgan was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.[19] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2022.[20] He was released on May 23, 2022.[21]
Pittsburgh Maulers (first stint)
editMorgan signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) of the United States Football League on September 26, 2022.[22]
Arizona Cardinals
editOn December 20, 2022, the Arizona Cardinals signed Morgan to their practice squad.[23] On January 7, 2023, Morgan was released by the Cardinals.[24]
Pittsburgh Maulers (second stint)
editMorgan re-signed with the Maulers following his stint with the Cardinals on January 14, 2023.[25] The Maulers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[26]
Montreal Alouettes
editMorgan signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League on January 17, 2024.[27]
USFL statistics
edit| Year | Team | League | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2023 | PIT | USFL | 3 | 2 | 0–2 | 23 | 48 | 47.9 | 210 | 4.4 | 0 | 3 | 34.2 | 5 | 7 | 1.4 | 0 |
Personal life
editMorgan also played basketball and won a state championship in the 4x400 meter relay at Ashwaubenon High School.[28] After his football career is over, Morgan plans on entering law school.[28]
References
edit- ^ "James Morgan, Ashwaubenon, Pro-Style Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Fenlon, Andy (January 15, 2020). "2020 East-West Shrine Bowl: James Morgan chasing heroes". NFL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Henry, Eric C. "James Morgan: FIU Football's Humble Success Story". The Underdog Dynasty. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Henry, Eric C. (October 19, 2018). "How James Morgan went from being Bowling Green's future to FIU's present". Underdog Dynasty. SBNation. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Demovsky, Rob (March 7, 2020). "An email changed NFL draft prospect James Morgan, and city of Green Bay's bleak QB history". ESPN. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ Helwick, Steve (January 25, 2018). "Former Bowling Green quarterback James Morgan announces transfer destination". Hustle Belt. SBNation. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Venci, Scott (February 5, 2020). "Showcasing his skills: Ashwaubenon's Morgan could be next local star to play in NFL". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gannett. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Starr, Patrick D. (February 14, 2020). "FIUs James Morgan Ready to Show His "A" Game Heading to the NFL Combine". State of the Texans. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ "James Morgan Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout James Morgan College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ Kosko, Nick (April 25, 2020). "James Morgan drafted by New York Jets". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ Lange, Randy; Greenberg, Ethan (August 31, 2021). "Jets Remove 27 Players from Roster to Reach 53-Man Limit". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (September 2, 2021). "Panthers make some practice squad changes". Panthers.com.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (November 12, 2021). "Panthers place Sam Darnold on injured reserve". Panthers.com.
- ^ "Steelers make roster moves". Steelers.com. November 15, 2021.
- ^ "Roster moves continue for Steelers". Steelers.com. November 23, 2021.
- ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 24, 2021). "Jets Sign QB James Morgan to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com.
- ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 30, 2021). "Jets Sign TE Dan Brown to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Colts Sign QB James Morgan To Practice Squad, Release WR Isaiah McKoy From Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Colts Sign 14 Players To Reserve/Future Contracts". Colts.com. January 10, 2022.
- ^ "Foles signs deal with Colts, reunites with Reich". ESPN.com. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ @USFLMaulers (September 26, 2022). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved September 27, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Cardinals sign QB James Morgan to practice squad, release Carson Strong". Arizona Sports. December 20, 2022.
- ^ "2023 Transactions". azcardinals.com. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ @USFLMaulers (January 14, 2023). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "THE MONTREAL ALOUETTES SIGN FORMER NFL QB AND AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN". montrealalouettes.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Reid, Jordan (January 13, 2020). "A Sit Down Conversation With Florida International QB James Morgan". The Draft Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- Bowling Green Falcons bio
- FIU Panthers bio