Morgan Returns Eager to Lead

If you feared that Stanley Morgan Jr. might not return for his senior season, and instead declare early for the NFL Draft, well, you weren’t alone.

Troy Walters also wondered, and as Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator, he had a vested cause for concern about Morgan’s plans.

So Walters reached out to Morgan, giving the Nebraska wide receiver every opportunity to get to know Nebraska’s new coaching staff. The two also talked Xs and Os, and about how head coach Scott Frost’s up-tempo spread offense could play to Morgan’s strengths, and how he could benefit from a year in this system.

All the while, Walters, who also serves as wide receivers coach, carefully made certain he put no pressure on Morgan, who last season led Nebraska with 61 receptions for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“He had to make the decision for himself,” Walters said. “All I wanted him to do was allow him to get to know me, the staff, the offense. I think he saw that and – he loves Nebraska, he loves Lincoln, he loves football, and he wanted to come back and really go out on a high note, and we’re excited he’s back.”

Turns out, Walters and Nebraska fans alike fretted for no reason.

Morgan said he never considered leaving, that the media created a looming decision that didn’t really exist.

In his final season, Morgan wants to polish all facets of his game, everything from route running to catching the football with consistency, while also proving himself a leader for a young group of receivers.

“I’ve got to come ready every day,” Morgan said. “I’ve got to come ready to lead the guys behind me. I can’t take days off.”

Not with Frost and Walters installing a new offense that relies on receivers who can make plays in space.

Compared to those receivers Walters has previously coached at Central Florida, Colorado, North Carolina State and Texas A&M, Morgan ranks right at the top, he said.

“He’s been there and done that, has great size, great ball skills, physical player, plays with an attitude, a chip on his shoulder, and he’s a guy who’s really come in and grasped the offense,” Walters said of the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Morgan.

“Once he really has a firm grasp on the offense, he’s really going to go out and make plays, and we’re going to count on him to be the guy. At UCF we had Tre’Quan Smith, and he was our guy, our featured player, and Stanley will be that guy.”

Morgan agreed, saying he very much wants to be “that guy” that shows up week after week, play after play.

“Just whatever I have to do to help the team,” Morgan said. “Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it. I hope to give something back.”

The no-huddle, up-tempo attack is new for Morgan, even dating to his high school days. “It’s fast,” he said, flashing a wide smile and laughing.

Morgan and others quickly discovered in January exactly how fast, during winter conditioning.

“That first workout was crazy,” Morgan said. “I couldn’t walk for like a week. It’s good work, though. Real good work.”

Morgan appears slimmer but actually packed on 6 pounds of muscle, he proudly confirmed.

“I’m very excited to get out there and see what we’ve got,” Morgan said after the second of 15 spring practices.

Frost said coaches will “throw everything at them” this spring in terms of the offense, and he credited an eager bunch of players for soaking in as much as possible.

“We’re way ahead of where we’ve been when we’ve installed this offense before,” Frost said.

In addition to Morgan, the Huskers return JD Spielman, a freshman All-American last season, and Tyjon Lindsey as receivers with playmaking abilities in Frost’s offense. In fact, Frost said he paid a recruiting visit to Spielman his junior year of high school, when Frost was offensive coordinator at Oregon.

“They are both the types of receivers that can flourish in this offense, guys that can win in space,” Frost said of the two sophomores. “You get them the ball in space, and they can make things happen with it.”

Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.