Tanner Morgan
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tanner Morgan
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 5
| current_team =
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|17}}
| birth_place = Hazard, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 216
| high_school = Ryle
(Union, Kentucky)
| college = Minnesota (2017–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2019)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Passing attempts
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Passing completions
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Completion percentage
| statvalue3 =
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Passing yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Passer rating
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Rushing yards
| statvalue7 =
| statlabel8 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue8 =
| pfr = MorgTa00
}}
Tanner Morgan (born April 17, 1999) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Early life
Morgan was born on April 17, 1999.{{cite web |author1=The NFL Draft Bible |title=NFL Draft Profile: Tanner Morgan, Quarterback, Minnesota Golden Gophers |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/scouting-reports/tannermorgan |website=SI.com |access-date=5 October 2022}} He originally attended Hazard High School in Hazard, Kentucky, before transferring to Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky prior to his junior year.{{cite news|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sidelines-with-john-clay/article237154889.html |title=Ex-Kentucky high school star key to one of college football's biggest games Saturday |first=John |last=Clay |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |location=Lexington, KY |date=November 8, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019}} As a senior, he passed 2,747 yards and 27 touchdowns. He originally committed to Western Michigan University to play college football for head coach P. J. Fleck but recommitted to the University of Minnesota after Fleck joined the school in 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2017/01/08/western-michigan-losing-recruits-pj-fleck-minnesota/96316750/ |title=Western Michigan losing recruits to P.J. Fleck, Minnesota |newspaper=The Detroit News |date=January 8, 2017 |access-date=November 13, 2019}}
College career
Morgan redshirted his first year at Minnesota in 2017. He entered 2018 as a backup to Zack Annexstad but took over as the starter for the final six games of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/quarterback-tanner-morgan-ought-to-stay-at-starter-for-gophers/498768931/ |title=Quarterback Tanner Morgan ought to stay at starter for Gophers |first=Chip |last=Scoggins |newspaper=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis |date=October 27, 2018 |access-date=November 9, 2019}} Overall he played in nine games, completing 89 of 152 passes for 1,401 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.[https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/football/4630155-Gophers-quarterback-Tanner-Morgan-may-be-short-but-he%E2%80%99s-crafty Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan may be short but he's crafty]{{cite news|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2018/12/21/ryle-grad-tanner-morgan-leads-university-minnesota-resurgence/2359108002/ |title=Catching up: Ryle graduate Tanner Morgan is leading a University of Minnesota resurgence |first=Jon |last=Richardson |newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=December 21, 2018 |access-date=November 9, 2019}}
In 2019, Morgan set several school records including passing yards (3,253) and touchdowns (30).{{Cite web|url=https://gophersports.com/sports/football/roster/tanner-morgan/18342|title=Tanner Morgan – Football|website=University of Minnesota Athletics|language=en|access-date=March 19, 2020}} He also set a Big Ten Conference record in a victory over Purdue by completing 21 of 22 passes for a completion percentage of 95.5.{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/28/gophers-quarterback-tanner-morgan-sets-big-ten-record-in-38-31-win-over-purdue/|title=Gophers' Tanner Morgan sets Big Ten record in 38-31 win over Purdue|last=Greder|publisher=St. Paul Pioneer Press|date=September 29, 2019|website=TwinCities.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 19, 2020}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Minnesota Golden Gophers}}"| Minnesota Golden Gophers | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing | |||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 2017
| colspan="15"| Redshirted File:Redshirt.svg | |||||||||||||||
| 2018
| 9 || 6 || 4−2 || 89 || 152 || 58.6 || 1,401 || 9.2 || 9 || 6 || 147.6 || 41 || 51 || 1.2 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2019
| 13 || 13 || 11−2 || 210 || 318 || 66.0 || 3,253 || 10.2 || 30 || 7 || 178.7 || 61 || -57 || -0.9 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 7 || 7 || 3−4 || 106 || 183 || 57.9 || 1,374 || 7.5 || 7 || 5 || 128.2 || 25 || -35 || -1.4 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 13 || 13 || 9−4 || 149 || 250 || 59.6 || 2,044 || 8.2 || 10 || 9 || 134.3 || 59 || -9 || -0.2 || 2 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 6 || 6 || 4−2 || 83 || 124 || 66.9 || 1,164 || 9.4 || 7 || 5 || 156.4 || 24 || 74 || 3.1 || 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Career{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tanner-morgan-2.html|title=Tanner Morgan College Stats|website=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=October 20, 2022}} | 48 | 45 | 31−14 | 637 | 1,027 | 62.0 | 9,236 | 9.0 | 63 | 32 | 151.6 | 210 | 24 | 0.1 | 8 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/8
| weight = 204
| dash = 4.97
| ten split = 1.72
| twenty split = 2.75
| shuttle = 4.45
| cone drill = 7.23
| vertical = 30.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 8
| arm span = 29 7/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from Minnesota's Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022862&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Tanner Morgan College Football Profile |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
Morgan was selected by the Michigan Panthers with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 USFL draft,{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/.amp/gophers/ex-gophers-qb-tanner-morgan-taken-8th-overall-in-usfl-draft|title=Ex-Gophers QB Tanner Morgan taken 8th overall in USFL draft|website=si.com|date=February 21, 2023|access-date=February 21, 2023}} but he chose not to join the Panthers, hoping to be selected in the 2023 NFL draft instead. He was not selected, but signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent immediately after the draft's conclusion.{{cite web|title=Steelers agree to terms with undrafted free agents|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-agree-to-terms-with-undrafted-free-agents|website=Steelers.com|date=April 30, 2023}} He was waived on August 28, 2023.{{cite web|title=Steelers make additional roster moves|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-additional-roster-moves|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=August 28, 2023}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
On October 5, 2023, Morgan was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, but was released five days later.{{cite news|title=Vikings Sign T Hakeem Adeniji to Active Roster; Add QB Tanner Morgan to Practice Squad|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/tanner-morgan-quarterback-minnesota-gophers-practice-squad|date=October 5, 2023|website=Vikings.com}}{{cite news|title=Vikings Release QB Tanner Morgan from Practice Squad|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/release-qb-tanner-morgan-from-practice-squad|date=October 10, 2023|website=Vikings.com}} He was re-signed to the practice squad once again on November 8, 2023, and released two days later.{{cite news|title=Former Gophers QB Tanner Morgan Returns to Vikings Practice Squad|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/tanner-morgan-signed-practice-squad-week-10|date=November 8, 2023|website=Vikings.com}}{{cite news|title=Vikings Release QB Tanner Morgan from Practice Squad|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/tanner-morgan-released-practice-squad|website=Vikings.com|date=November 10, 2023}}
Coaching career
On September 18, 2023, Morgan returned to the University of Minnesota as an offensive analyst on P. J. Fleck's staff following his release from the Steelers.{{Cite web|title=Tanner Morgan, Mariano Sori-Marin return to Gophers as volunteer analysts|url=https://m.startribune.com/minnesota-gophers-football-tanner-morgan-mariano-sori-marin-volunteer-analysts-pj-fleck/600305639/|access-date=November 16, 2023|website=startribune.com|language=en}} He would vacate the role in October after signing a contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
Personal life
Morgan is a Christian.{{cite web |last1=Doering |first1=Joshua |title=Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan praising God while leading undefeated Gophers |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2019/11/11/minnesota-qb-tanner-morgan-praising-god-leading-gophers/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=November 16, 2019}} His father, Ted, died from a brain tumor in July 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-14|title=Father of Gophers QB Tanner Morgan dies of brain tumor|url=https://www.fox9.com/sports/father-of-gophers-qb-tanner-morgan-dies-of-brain-tumor|access-date=2021-08-31|website=FOX 9|language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://gophersports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=16387 Minnesota Golden Gophers bio]
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Tanner}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Hazard High School alumni
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:People from Boone County, Kentucky