Fast-Rising OL Grayson Morgan Talks Recruitment Explosion, Vols, and More

Fast-Rising OL Grayson Morgan Talks Recruitment Explosion, Vols, and More

Montgomery Bell Academy (Tenn.) offensive lineman Grayson Morgan has quickly turned into one of the hottest recruits in the country. In a three day span earlier this month, Morgan picked up seven Power Five offers, three of which came on the same day. 

Morgan is a little late to the recruiting scene, but after a position change from tight end to offensive tackle, college coaches have quickly taken notice of his ability. 

Nicknamed "big country" because of his time spent fishing for bluegill and bass and hunting for deer, quail and dove, Morgan is starting to adapt to the recruiting process, but there was some initial shock. 

"I mean, it was really crazy. I wasn't really expecting it," Morgan said. "I didn't know how the recruitment process worked that much, and everybody I tried to talk to about it didn't really know with corona making it a new process. It was really good, and I enjoyed talking to everybody."

Back in February, before the recent explosion, App State was the first bigger program to extend Morgan an offer. "I was really excited. Even though they aren't Power Five, they are a very good program. They know what they are doing. I have had multiple zoom calls with them and the coaching staff is great and they have a great program set up over there. "

Now, with Power Five schools entering the mix, Morgan will continue to explore all of his options, but he is excited about an opportunity he has always wanted. 

"It has always been my dream to play in the Power Five when I was growing up. It made me want to get back in the weight room because I was playing basketball at the time and hadn't had the chance to get in the weight room yet. It made me want to start getting back to work."

 As Morgan continues to navigate the process, he is working to communicate more college coaches. "I have talked a lot with Vandy. They have been up there. Them, Appalachia State, and Memphis are probably the top three schools I have communicated with the most," he said. "Just getting the Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi State offers, I have been able to talk to them a little bit but just starting to talk with them more and more."

Tennessee, Morgan's latest offer, caught him by surprise. "I wasn't expecting them because I wasn't hearing from them that much before. I wasn't sure how that phone call was going to go, but I was really excited about how it went," Morgan told VR2 on SI. "Coach Golesh was the one that offered, and I got to speak with the head coach a little bit after. They are a new coaching staff, and they like the way I move. They like my size, physicality, length and the way I move. I was really excited to hear that from them."

"We didn't get into all of that," Morgan said about learning the specifics of Tennessee's offense. "They said my speed and length would be a good fit for their offense. They didn't get into specifics, but they said I would be a really good fit for what they are going to do."

"I really liked how I can relate to them," Morgan said about Tennessee's staff. "We talked about hunting and fishing a little bit. It was really good how I could relate to the coaches, and they weren't just college coaches that were way up above you. They really related to me and interacted with me. Even though we didn't talk for very long, I was able to get to know them and their character a little bit."

"Definitely my speed and length," Morgan said on what he feels is the best part of his game. "Last year was my first year playing tackle. I played tight end my sophomore year. We had an open tackle spot, and all of my coaches saw me fitting right in. They had a plan and let me go one-on-one with the defender and letting the running back read off of me. I feel like I really excelled as a blocker." 

With just one year at the position, and his development impacted by COVID, Morgan knows where he would like to improve his game. " I want to work more on technique. Just having a year of practice and with COVID, you can't really get into the details going against somebody. I am really excited to work with my coach about the little stuff."

With a budding recruiting, Morgan has no timeline for a decision, but he knows what he is looking for in a school. 

"In a school, I am looking for somewhere that focuses on academics and makes that a priority. That has kind of just been engraved in me," Morgan said. "The second thing would be the culture of the school and what they represent. Third would be the program and coaching staff, how they are going to make me better not just on the field but off the field—preparing me for life." 

"I am just a big fun-loving guy. My nickname is big country. I am just hard working and ready to go."