:Grant Morgan (American football)

Grant Morgan, the son of Matt Morgan and Annie Shaw, was born in St. Louis, Missouri,{{cite web |last1=Davenport |first1=Richard |title=The Recruiting Guy: Trio of Razorback linebackers leaving a mark |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/oct/03/trio-of-razorback-linebackers-leaving-a-mark/ |website=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |access-date=August 1, 2023 |date=October 3, 2021}} on January 23, 1998.{{cite web |title=Grant Morgan Biography |url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/grant-morgan/ |website=Arkansas Razorbacks |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=June 29, 2016 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020154833/https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/grant-morgan/ |url-status=live }} He was a three-year letterwinner at Greenwood High School, where he was rated the No. 22 prospect in Arkansas and the No. 71 inside linebacker in his class by 247Sports and given an overall three-star rating.{{cite web |title=Grant Morgan, Greenwood AR, Inside Linebacker |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Grant-Morgan-35359/?Institution=7019 |website=247Sports |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411061553/http://247sports.com/Player/Grant-Morgan-35359?Institution=7019 |url-status=live }} During his senior year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Player of the Year by the Southwest Times Record.{{cite web |title=Recruiting Update: Grant Morgan, Drew's Brother, to be a Razorback. |url=https://razorbackers.com/2016/01/18/recruiting-update-grant-morgan-drews-brother-razorback/ |website=Razorbackers |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=January 18, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027182308/https://razorbackers.com/2016/01/18/recruiting-update-grant-morgan-drews-brother-razorback/ |url-status=live }} Greenwood made the second round of the AAA football playoffs in Morgan's junior year and won the state championship in his senior year.

Morgan accepted a position as a preferred walk-on at Arkansas on January 18, 2016, one day after his unofficial visit to the campus. He chose Arkansas over his other interests, Arkansas State, Auburn, Central Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tulsa, though he did not receive offers from any of these schools.{{cite web |title=Grant Morgan Recruit Interests |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Grant-Morgan-37371/RecruitInterests/ |website=247Sports |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801022129/https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Grant-Morgan-37371/RecruitInterests/ |url-status=live }} Morgan formally enrolled at Arkansas on May 31, 2016.

After redshirting during the 2016 season, Morgan saw the field for the first time in 2017. He appeared in all twelve of the Razorbacks' games, recording at least one tackle in each, and a season-high eight in the last game of the season against Missouri. On August 26, 2018, Morgan was placed on full scholarship alongside two other Arkansas players.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Tom |title=Razorbacks place 3 on scholarship |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/aug/26/razorbacks-place-3-scholarship/ |website=Arkansas Online |access-date=October 11, 2021 |language=en |date=August 26, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028165648/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/aug/26/razorbacks-place-3-scholarship/ |url-status=live }} In 2018 and 2019, Morgan again made appearances in every game for Arkansas, totaling 24 and 39 tackles, respectively, over the course of each season. Prior to the 2020 season, Morgan was voted one of four team captains by his teammates under new head coach Sam Pittman,{{cite web |last1=Short |first1=Shelley |title=Pittman Talks Football |url=https://swark.today/pittman-talks-football/ |website=Southwest Arkansas Today |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027183415/https://swark.today/pittman-talks-football/ |url-status=live }} and garnered nationwide recognition by the end of the season. He was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation{{cite web |title=2020 Walter Camp All-America Teams – Walter Camp Football Foundation |url=https://waltercamp.org/2020-walter-camp-all-america-teams/ |website=Walter Camp Football Foundation |access-date=October 11, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028164444/https://waltercamp.org/2020-walter-camp-all-america-teams/ |url-status=live }} and the American Football Coaches Association,{{cite web |last1=Pavilack |first1=Jacob |title=Arkansas LB Grant Morgan selected to AFCA All-American 2nd Team |url=https://www.kait8.com/2020/12/31/arkansas-lb-grant-morgan-selected-afca-all-american-nd-team/ |website=KAIT8 |access-date=October 11, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029171148/https://www.kait8.com/2020/12/31/arkansas-lb-grant-morgan-selected-afca-all-american-nd-team/ |url-status=live }} and earned third-team All-America honors from college football analyst Phil Steele.{{cite web |title=Phil Steele's 2020 Postseason All American and All Conference Teams – Phil Steele |url=https://philsteele.com/2021/01/07/phil-steeles-2020-postseason-all-american-and-all-conference-teams/ |website=Phil Steele |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410143630/https://philsteele.com/2021/01/07/phil-steeles-2020-postseason-all-american-and-all-conference-teams/ |url-status=dead }} Morgan was also named first-team all-SEC by the Associated Press{{cite web |title=Morgan and Catalon named AP first team All-SEC |url=https://katv.com/sports/hog-central/morgan-and-catalon-named-ap-first-team-all-sec |website=KATV |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=December 23, 2020 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027175638/https://katv.com/sports/hog-central/morgan-and-catalon-named-ap-first-team-all-sec |url-status=live }} and SEC head coaches, the first Razorback to be named by both since Martrell Spaight in 2014. On August 12, 2021, Arkansas announced that Morgan had signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar.{{cite web|title=Arkansas LB Grant Morgan signs NIL deal with Walk-On's|url=https://247sports.com/Article/Arkansas-Razorbacks-Grant-Morgan-signs-NIL-name-image-likeness-deal-with-Walk-Ons-169050701/|url-status=live|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=247Sports|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812192103/https://247sports.com/Article/Arkansas-Razorbacks-Grant-Morgan-signs-NIL-name-image-likeness-deal-with-Walk-Ons-169050701/}} As a senior, Morgan helped Arkansas to an 8–4 regular season, and a bid to the 2022 Outback Bowl against Penn State on New Year's Day. The Razorbacks went on to win the game, 24–10, finishing the 2021 season 9–4 and ranked in the Top 25.

In 2020, Morgan was named a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy – which is given to the best national player who began their college career as a walk-on – alongside Dax Milne and eventual winner Jimmy Morrissey. Morgan was again named a finalist in 2021, alongside Carlton Martial and Stetson Bennett. The trophy ceremony was held at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on December 6, and Morgan was announced as the winner.{{cite web |title=Arkansas Razorbacks star linebacker named a finalist for Burlsworth Trophy |url=https://www.ky3.com/2021/11/16/arkansas-razorbacks-star-linebacker-named-finalist-burlsworth-trophy/ |website=KY3 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |language=en |date=November 16, 2021 |archive-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116163434/https://www.ky3.com/2021/11/16/arkansas-razorbacks-star-linebacker-named-finalist-burlsworth-trophy/ |url-status=live }}

Morgan signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2022.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars agree to terms with 15 undrafted free agents|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/jacksonville-jagaurs-roster-moves-15-undrafted-free-agents|website=Jaguars.com|date=May 2, 2022|access-date=May 6, 2022|archive-date=May 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506180917/https://www.jaguars.com/news/jacksonville-jagaurs-roster-moves-15-undrafted-free-agents|url-status=live}} He was waived on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars claim K Jake Verity, and waive QB Jake Luton and LB Grant Morgan |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-claim-k-jake-verity-and-waive-qb-jake-luton-and-lb-grant-mo |website=Jaguars.com |access-date=26 August 2022 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826202050/https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-claim-k-jake-verity-and-waive-qb-jake-luton-and-lb-grant-mo |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars make 11 additions to the practice squad|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-make-11-additions-to-the-practice-squad|website=Jaguars.com|date=August 31, 2022|access-date=August 31, 2022|archive-date=August 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831200150/https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-make-11-additions-to-the-practice-squad|url-status=live}} He was released off the practice squad on September 12.{{cite web|title=Jaguars add veterans Corey Peters, James Murray to practice squad|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2022/09/12/jaguars-add-veterans-corey-peters-james-murray-to-practice-squad/|author=Dillon, John|website=USAToday.com|date=September 12, 2022|access-date=September 13, 2022|archive-date=September 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913021328/https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2022/09/12/jaguars-add-veterans-corey-peters-james-murray-to-practice-squad/|url-status=live}}

In April 2023, Morgan joined the Illinois coaching staff as a graduate assistant.{{Cite web |title=Grant Morgan joins Bielema coaching staff at Illinois |url=https://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2023/apr/07/grant-morgan-joins-bielema-coaching-staff-at-illinois/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=wholehogsports.com |language=en}}

Morgan is the second of seven siblings. He has an older brother – former Arkansas wide receiver Drew Morgan – in addition to four younger sisters and a younger brother. Morgan graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology, and again in 2020 with a Master of Science in operations management. On January 4, 2020, Morgan married his longtime girlfriend, Sydnie, an Arkansas Tech softball player.{{cite web |title=Grant Morgan adjusting to married life |url=https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/Article/Grant-Morgan-Arkansas-Razorbacks-adjusting-married-life--145685430/ |website=HawgSports |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801022136/https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/Article/Grant-Morgan-Arkansas-Razorbacks-adjusting-married-life--145685430/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Being a Morgan: sitting down with Grant Morgan's wife, Sydnie |url=https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/being-a-morgan-sitting-down-with-grant-morgans-wife-sydnie/ |website=KNWA FOX24 |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=October 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020154833/https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/being-a-morgan-sitting-down-with-grant-morgans-wife-sydnie/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.jaguars.com/team/players-roster/grant-morgan/ Jacksonville Jaguars bio]
• [https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/grant-morgan/ Arkansas Razorbacks bio]

{{Burlsworth Trophy}}

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Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players

Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football coaches

Category:People from Greenwood, Arkansas

Category:Players of American football from Arkansas