Interview with 2012 Kicker Marshall Morgan (Archbishop McCarthy)
by DA-2 on Jan 4, 2011 8:00 AM EST
in FSU Football Recruiting
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Sebastian Janikowski. Graham Gano. Dustin Hopkins…. Marshall Morgan?
Some in South Florida are talking about a kicking prodigy coming out of the 2012 class. That kicker is Marshall Morgan of Archbishop McCarthy high school. Marshall measures in at 6’3 194 lbs. As any fan of Florida State would know, a kicker is crucial to a team’s success. Marshall has carried Archbishop McCarthy to its most glorious times in football. McCarthy made it to the 3rd round of the playoffs and posted a 10-2 season. They eventually lost to Miami Norland, alma mater of FSU DB Xavier Rhodes.
Archbishop McCarthy located in Southwest Ranches, FL is the sister school to Archbishop Carroll. Some may know the high school Archbishop Carroll as the alma mater of FSU WR Rodney Smith. Since McCarthy’s inception in 1998, no football player has been more decorated than Marshall Morgan. When I asked how far he could kick, Marshall said: "I can kick 53 long in a game, and 64 long in practice." Morgan has received 3A first team all-state honors both in his freshman and sophomore year. Junior year accolades have not been released yet.
Recruiting has just begun for this young phenom. He currently has two offers from major D1 schools. Florida State and Georgia. Some of the other schools recruiting him are Florida, Oregon, Texas Christian, Alabama, Washington, Rutgers and Miami. The Florida State coach recruiting him is ace recruiter Eddie Gran. When asked about Gran, Marshall said: "Eddie Gran is very welcoming and a coach that I feel you can talk to. He seems confident in what he does which would make me comfortable if he were my coach." Not only can Marshall kick, he can punt as well. When I asked if he preferred kicking or punting, he said "I like punting and kicking equally."
Marshall is not only a star on the field but also a star in the classroom. He has a 4.17 GPA currently at one of the toughest schools in Broward county. His football coach preaches school to his players constantly. "Academics are everything. My football coach, coach (Tim) Conrad, is my English teacher and has taught me to make academics my first priority. I enjoy school and then football after," Morgan said. He plans on majoring in something sports related when he attends college.
What are Marshall’s plans for the future? His goals are to get stronger, faster, and smarter. This summer he plans to attend the big foot kicking camp run by coach Tim Conrad. Coach Conrad has worked with Brett Swenson, Michigan State’s all-time leading kickers, as well as Tennessee’s kicker Michael Palardy, former St. Thomas Aquinas student. Conrad's resume is pretty thick, and it's a great benefit to Marshall that he is the special teams coach at Archbishop McCarthy.
After the jump, you’ll see highlights with Marshall as well as a video interview with courtesy of the MiamiHerald.
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Yes, that is me.
From what I understand, he grew up a Gator fan. A big Tim Tebow fan. However, he’s very much open to Florida State. FSU made a great impression on him during the summer when he was able to talk to Jimbo Fisher. FSU was his first offer, he likes Fisher, and looks to be committing sometime around spring/summer (didn’t include in article, because we know that high school kids change their mind). Can’t commit to a school that doesn’t offer you.
Well you CAN
but it’s just awkward for everyone.
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
by AMFKNole on Jan 4, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Didn't a kid commit to a non-commitable gator offer TWICE?
I forget the kid’s name, but it was this year.
So yeah…that’s basically what that guy DID do.
Rahim Cassel
That was the kid. Embarassing stuff. Went public that he was a gate TWO times. Meyer must’ve been happy about that.
Ahhhh, I miss me some Jeff Cameron
"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett
by The Ryno and I Know on Jan 4, 2011 12:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hahahaha....
I play my best when the game is on the line,
I guess that’s why they call me… PRIME TIME
Just as Hopkins was a must-get, so is this kid IMO
We were all created to be Seminoles. This is why we bleed garnet and piss gold.
Excellent work, Daniel. Morgan is a flat-out stud and a true weapon.
This team will improve in '10... on its 16-16 conference record over the last 4 years.... after losing 20 games in the last 4 years... after having the 7th worst major-conference defense... after not even winning its own division in the ACC in the last 4.
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Good work Daniel
I also know of another kicker who has the potential to be a stud, but is not very well known right now. His name is Mark Grant and he’s an excellent punter and kickoff specialist, and #1 Punter and kickoff specialist at the Ray Guy Prokicker.com Academy, of which Graham Gano happens to be an alumnus.
by Matt Champion on Jan 4, 2011 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Why hasn't a school like UF offered him yet?
You’d think they’d want a kicker, I mean you only really need one every four years.
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
Well, they had a Kicker, but he got hurt
Don’t know if he’ll be back.
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
Go ask Bill Gramatica.
"The other day I... uh, no, that wasn't me." - Steven Wright
by O-Town Nole on Jan 4, 2011 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We won't really know what this kid's made of
until JF sends Vic to slap him around.
FSU 27
USC 24
by Dr.KennethNoisewater on Jan 4, 2011 10:26 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
He could end up like a Graham Gano
in that he could (if he came to FSU) start out as a punter (since Powell is a SR for 2011) in 2012 and then switch to PK (or handle both) in 2013 after Hopkins has used up his eligibility.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Vince Lombardi
"We'll win games with talent, we'll win championships with character." Jimbo Fisher
My thoughts as well
"I wish you loved me as much as you love TomahawkNation!"
by freshcollegeboy on Jan 4, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
That would be great.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
"Trick is right."
"Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed."
"Correct, Sir Trick."
"Thanks tricknole!"
Or, sell the guy on redshirting in 2012
He could do like Ponder and get a Masters during five years of school.
4
and then start a second post grad degree
"But how will I know limits from lies, if I never try."
by geoffissiffoeg on Jan 5, 2011 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
What happened to the Mexican kid out of Orlando we were recruiting as a kicker?
ESPN said he was the top kicker prospect and a HUGE Nole lean.
Think we're still on him
"I wish you loved me as much as you love TomahawkNation!"
by freshcollegeboy on Jan 4, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Roberto Aguayo.
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
"Trick is right."
"Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed."
"Correct, Sir Trick."
"Thanks tricknole!"
Coach Tim Conrad was my coach
If he is training this kid, he is definitely taught everything correctly about kicking. Conrad has coached Auburn’s current kicker Wes Byrum. Wes is my bud, he kicked a game winner in the Swamp a few years ago after Herban tried to call time out and ice him. Anyways yea, Conrad has sent like 8 straight to top d1 schools. Conrad also graduated from FSU back in the day and recently began having a yearly kicking camp at FSU.
by FSnowUknow on Jan 4, 2011 11:52 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Eddie Gran cleaned house at STA in 2007.
Wes Byrum was one of them. Good info, FSnowUknow. I’ll rec as well.
I agree with your name
Screw snow. ;)
by Invictus13 on Jan 4, 2011 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
like the maytag repairmen
the kick coverage team must get pretty bored.. “oh well, everyone else is running down, maybe i should too…” (get to about the 45) “nope over the track again like the last one.. bummer, this is the only time i get on the field”
Kind of like how our coverage teams must've felt back in the late '90s.
I remember seeing Janikowski drill a kick-off through the uprights at Doak one time.
"The other day I... uh, no, that wasn't me." - Steven Wright
Was there for that, too. All my friends jaws dropped and the other team just hung their heads.
"My mistress is pooped, the reds have Oklahoma, and I'm going to bed."
-Hodge Podge, Bloom County
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. "
"In practice, there is."-Yogi Berra
GT game back in '99 and he actually put back-to-back kickoffs through.
All-ACCess: NC State at Florida State
There’s no question he has the leg for the long attempts. All 10 of his kickoffs went into the end zone, and only two were returned (to the 15 and to the 17-yard line, respectively). Janikowski put back-to-back kickoffs through the uprights last week against Georgia Tech, which is essentially like hitting a 75-yard field goal. This week, he hit the upright once on a kickoff.
This was back when they kicked off from the 35. But, still, it was impressive to see in person.
"The other day I... uh, no, that wasn't me." - Steven Wright
If you're a stud kicker who is also pretty smart
Why wouldn’t you take your services to a Stanford, Duke, etc? If you can get an athletic scholarship at a great university like that why pass it up? I’m not sure how much value you get in increasing your pro potential by going to FSU? The only reason I can think of are the girls, which in my book is
by moneyNOLE24 on Jan 4, 2011 12:59 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Phone error…in my book is a great reason.
by moneyNOLE24 on Jan 4, 2011 1:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The fact that we've had 2 Groza winners in the past 12 years?
This ain’t the early 90s “Wide Right” era of FSU kicking anymore. FSU now has a track record of recruiting quality kickers and turning them into Groza-winning NFL draft picks.
…and yes, the girls help.
"My mistress is pooped, the reds have Oklahoma, and I'm going to bed."
-Hodge Podge, Bloom County
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. "
"In practice, there is."-Yogi Berra
We're the only school with 2 groza winners, and we've had the only 2 time winner
why wouldn’t you wanna kick at fsu
"Kill a fly with an axe"
by SteadfastNole on Jan 4, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
Are those facts?
I don’t feel like looking it up…damn impressive if true.
FSU 27
USC 24
by Dr.KennethNoisewater on Jan 4, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Because he's a
CRIMINAL!
FSU 27
USC 24
by Dr.KennethNoisewater on Jan 4, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
As opposed to Fiona Apple, who just felt like one.
"My mistress is pooped, the reds have Oklahoma, and I'm going to bed."
-Hodge Podge, Bloom County
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. "
"In practice, there is."-Yogi Berra
His words are like a dagger with a jagged edge
Bring back Peter Tom Willis— a true Nole! -FiestaNole
I don't get that from him at all
We were all created to be Seminoles. This is why we bleed garnet and piss gold.
by NoleThruandThru on Jan 5, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
Amazing how that information gets out a day after I interview him.
I don’t think he commits to the Gators on the spot if he’s given an offer.
FSU missed out!
Marshall is the real deal, I worked with coach conrad in 2009-2010, ive kicked with marshall and he is something that only comes along once in awhile, like a Janikowski, im a huge FSU fan and this is a real disapointment to hear that marshall will be providing his services to UGA
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