James Morris - Class Act

W

WinOneThisCentury

Well-Known Member
I honestly believe he has the potential at the end of his career to go down as one of the best LB's to play at the University of Iowa. He mentions wanting to play at 232 this fall in his video and it makes me realize he will leave Iowa probably around 240-245. With legitimate 4.5 speed (from what I hear), he has special written all over him. Adding the extra 12-15 pounds from last years weight is going to make a big difference to him on the field.

What a great leader of the defensive side of the ball we have for the next three years. He just seems older than he is. If he gets to the point where he is just reacting, he's really going to be fun to watch. I realize he benefitted greatly from having Klug and Ballard occupying so many people last year, but he still played beyond his years.

Turn him loose Norm.
 
He has a great attitude and tons of potential. Kind of like Coker on the offensive side of the ball. Norm doesn't really need to turn him loose tho. He is the MLB in Iowa's defense. By nature he will be in a position where he can make plays all over the field.

It would be nice to see him blitz a little bit more than usual for an Iowa LB. He really has a knack for finding the football. It should be fun watching him play at a bigger weight. For a freshman, he got to the football pretty quickly last year but he didn't deliver a very big blow once he made contact very often. The added bulk should help him out in that department.
 
When I read the title, I thought it meant he had done something virtuous off the field. I am sure he is a class act, but that is different from being a good football player.
 
Sounds like a great kid and a tremendous football player. More amazingly, he's not even the best LB in the state of Iowa right now...that honor would belong to Jake Knott. Nonetheless, he's a great player for the Hawks and I hope he ends up playing on Sundays...and he'll be a beast in the middle all year for that Iowa defense.
 
MoseSchrute said:
When I read the title, I thought it meant he had done something virtuous off the field. I am sure he is a class act, but that is different from being a good football player.
Click to expand...

He gave credit to the people who helped get him ready to play last year and to his teammates...and he made it clear he by no means feels he has any position locked up. He seems pretty genuine to me.
 
I told my buddy that I have season tickets with after the end of last season that as far as I'm concerned this is James Morris's team now. I think he has the potential to be that kind of leader and player. Hope it holds true.
 
Mesaclone said:
Sounds like a great kid and a tremendous football player. More amazingly, he's not even the best LB in the state of Iowa right now...that honor would belong to Jake Knott. Nonetheless, he's a great player for the Hawks and I hope he ends up playing on Sundays...and he'll be a beast in the middle all year for that Iowa defense.
Click to expand...

That title would actually belong to Tyler Nielsen.
 
No it wouldn't...and its not even close. Nielsen, I'm sure, is a good player. But Knott is at another level up from him. Morris has a chance to reach that level before he's through, though it will take some doing.
 
Mesaclone said:
Sounds like a great kid and a tremendous football player. More amazingly, he's not even the best LB in the state of Iowa right now...that honor would belong to Jake Knott. Nonetheless, he's a great player for the Hawks and I hope he ends up playing on Sundays...and he'll be a beast in the middle all year for that Iowa defense.
Click to expand...

Nice job turning this into a Hawk vs clown/little brother thread.

But back on topic, heres a great article on James...

Morris Returns as a Well-Seasoned Sophomore | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Hawkeyes
 
Please... If Knott played for Iowa he would be competing with Kirksey, Hitchens and Dibona for a starting spot. He certainly would not be starting over Nielsen or Morris this year. Just because he is the best player on ISU's defense doesn't mean much. It's still ISU's defense. You're a clone tho so it doesn't really surprise me that you think he is the best LB in Iowa. You have to find something good to say about your defense. We will see who ends up having the better careers. This topic is about Morris however, run along please.
 
Mesaclone said:
No it wouldn't...and its not even close. Nielsen, I'm sure, is a good player. But Knott is at another level up from him. Morris has a chance to reach that level before he's through, though it will take some doing.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me? Nielsen > Knott and it isn't even comparible. Morris > Knott but it's a bit closer for now. Won't be when it's all said and done.
 
I don't recall the game nor the announcer last fall but one announcer said during a game that this kid will be an All American linebacker by the time he's done at Iowa. The announce didn't even hesitate when he said it.
 
Mesaclone said:
No it wouldn't...and its not even close. Nielsen, I'm sure, is a good player. But Knott is at another level up from him. Morris has a chance to reach that level before he's through, though it will take some doing.
Click to expand...

You simply weren't watching Nielsen then. There was surprisingly little drop-off at the LEO LB spot for Iowa after Edds left when Nielsen was in. If you're willing to say that Knott was on par with Edds ... then I'd say that you're smokin' somthing.

Knott is one heck of a talent, I definitely agree with that. However, his tackle numbers do not immediately imply that he plays at a higher level than Nielsen.
 
His tackle numbers? He was 2nd in the Big 12 conference in tackles.

Knott will be a pre-season 1st...and in some cases 2nd...team all conference linebacker. I highly doubt you can say the same for Nielsen...and the LB corps in the Big 12 is as good as any conference in America. This is not to belittle Nielsen whatsoever...but he's clearly a notch below Knott in terms of both performance AND potential. As for Edds...excellent player...Knott has every chance of being even better AND a higher draft pick. He's not there yet...but the kid was just a sophomore last year so he certainly will get better as he gets older.

Interestingly, his fellow LB AJ Klein is nearly as good as he is...finishing 5th in the conference in tackles and scoring a couple of TD's on Interception returns. He'll be at least honorable mention pre-season all conference.
 
Re: ISU linebackers. Yes, I'm sure they are plenty talented, but tackling numbers are inflated when your d-line plays like a sieve and when your defense is on the field all day long because they can't get any stops and your offense sucks.
 
Knott will be a pre-season 1st...and in some cases 2nd...team all conference linebacker."

The key word in that sentence is "pre-season". Congrats on your pre-season awards. We'll see where they are at towards the end of the season. I think all players mentioned have a lot of potential and are equally motivated. I just think Morris and Nielsen have a much bigger upside. Plus the other defensive players they line-up with are flat-out better than what Knott and Klein have in terms of support.

You can talk pre-season awards all you want. Whatever helps the time go by for ya. Come back and talk to me after the season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top