Back to basics: Morrison's renewed focus and good health has led to a productive season
Thursday, November 6, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
Antonio Morrison had a career-high 15 tackles against Georgia. (Photo: Jay Metz)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators linebacker Antonio Morrison remembers more than he would like about last year's Vanderbilt game.
First, he remembers the Gators lost, snapping a 22-game win streak over the Commodores. As if that wasn't painful enough, Morrison remembers it was the final game of his sophomore season.
“I got injured this game. I tore my meniscus and played the whole game,'' Morrison said. “I'm ready to play these guys.”
Morrison was Florida's leading tackler at the time of a knee injury that cost him the season's final three games. He finished with 56 tackles but lacked the impact he made as a true freshman in 2012 when his hit on Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel and fumble recovery turned the momentum in the Gators' 37-26 win in Tallahassee.
In Florida's biggest win since that game – Saturday's 38-20 victory over ninth-ranked Georgia – Morrison racked up a career-high 15 tackles. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Morrison ranks third in the SEC in tackles per game (9.6) and has 67 overall with at least four games remaining in the season.
Morrison's blue-collar play of late has not gone unnoticed. Neither has his strong rebound from the injury and unspectacular sophomore season.
“His endurance is much better,” Gators coach Will Muschamp said. “He's able to sustain and play longer periods of time at a high level, and I think a lot of that goes back to his conditioning.
“He's a very instinctive, tough player. One of his better games was against LSU, a traditional two-back team. You saw him playing off blocks and making [14] tackles, which is hard to do. I think he's had a good year for us.”
His teammates agree.
“He's grown up so much,” sophomore cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III said. “He's matured. He fell into his leader role and he takes it very serious. He's playing well and I'm happy for him.”
Morrison played behind Jon Bostic as a freshman and then endured some off-the-field issues the summer after the season. Once he suffered the season-ending injury last season, Morrison refocused his commitment to the game and it's now showing up on Saturdays.
Morrison has recorded 10 or more tackles in five games this season and has 27 more tackles than any other player on the roster – defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. is second with 40.
“I think he's playing his best football here this year since he's been here,'' defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin said. “He's really stepped up as a leader. He's not just out there making plays. He's been real effective in many ways for us.”
Morrison said there's no secret to his success. He's healthy. He's committed. He's playing hard every play.
“I just matured,'' he said. “I go as hard as I can. I became a lot more mature for my age. I just worked all offseason. I didn't want to have the same results personally and as a team.”
