Anthony Morelli

TD-INT:	14-4
Passing yards:	824
QB Rating:	92.01

Career Arena statistics
TD-INT:
TD-INT:	14-4
Passing yards:	824
QB Rating:	92.01
	Player stats at NFL.com · ArenaFan.com

Anthony Morelli
	Anthony Morelli (left) hands off to Austin Scott at Penn State.
No. 12, 9
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	June 21, 1985 (age 38); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:	Penn Hills ; (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
College:	Penn State
Undrafted:	2008
Career history
	Arizona Cardinals (2008); San Jose SaberCats (2009); Milwaukee Iron (2010); Omaha Nighthawks (2010); Pittsburgh Power (2011);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
TD-INT:	Anthony Michael Morelli (born June 21, 1985) is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Penn State.Contents Early years ; College career ; Controversy ; Professional career ; Arizona Cardinals ; Milwaukee Iron ; Pittsburgh Power ; Personal ; References ; External links ; Morelli was a member of the San Jose SaberCats, Milwaukee Iron, Omaha Nighthawks and Pittsburgh Power.Early years As a 10-year-old, Morelli won the National Football League's 1995 Punt, Pass, and Kick competition, throwing a 50-yard pass in front of his hometown crowd at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. In his high school years, Morelli was selected to the ESPN RISE Elite 11.College career Morelli originally committed to the University of Pittsburgh in August 2003, but de-committed due to Pitt's existing situation with Tyler Palko, along with the recent move of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College out of the Big East, and chose Penn State instead. Morelli's junior year at Penn State got off to a good start. He threw a 42-yard touchdown on his first pass as the Nittany Lion's starting quarterback in a 34-16 win over the University of Akron. However, he struggled after that, particularly in a 28-6 loss to rival Ohio State. With the Lions down 14-6, Morelli threw two late interceptions that Ohio State returned for touchdowns, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback and making the game look a lot more lopsided than it was. Morelli finished the game with only 106 yards passing. As a result of this performance, Morelli's play had become a polarizing issue amongst Nittany Lion fans. Some fans wanted to bring in backup Daryll Clark, a redshirt freshman whose style of play resembled that of Morelli's predecessor and former Heisman hopeful, Michael Robinson. Other fans have come to Morelli's defense, pointing out the amount of playing time typically required to develop good quarterbacks. By season's end, Morelli had thrown for 2,424 yards, 11 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He took over third place on Penn State's season passing yardage list, trailing only Kerry Collins (1994) and Tony Sacca (1991). Despite his relatively decent statistics, Morelli expressed frustration over the conservative nature of Penn State's play calling in a November 2006 interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . After struggling all season, Morelli was able to redeem himself during the 2007 Outback Bowl against Tennessee, leading the Nittany Lions to an upset victory. Morelli's senior season began with a dominant victory over rival Notre Dame but quickly lost momentum with ineffectual campaigns at rival Michigan and at Illinois highlighted by his tendency to turn the ball over in critical situations. Morelli then led Penn State to blowout wins over Iowa and Wisconsin and a close road win against Indiana, but Morelli struggled against rival Ohio State and was unable to rally Penn State to victory over Big Ten rival Michigan State in the closing minutes of the game.Controversy Morelli revealed that he has not spoken with high school coach Neil Gordon since his final game in 2003. He accused Gordon and his staff of sabotaging his college recruitment, spreading rumors about his intelligence and his inability to read defenses.Professional careerArizona Cardinals Morelli was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent immediately following the 2008 NFL Draft. In his first professional appearance, Morelli went 2-6 for 13 yards against the New Orleans Saints in Arizona's 2008 preseason opener. He was cut on August 30, 2008, after a lackluster performance in week 4 of the preseason against the Denver Broncos, which included an interception returned for a touchdown. Morelli worked out for the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills during the 2009 offseason. He was also slated to play for the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL) until they suspended operations indefinitely in August 2009.Milwaukee Iron Morelli signed with the Milwaukee Iron of the new AFL on January 2, 2010. He worked out with NFL teams at the 2010 NFL Combine, in hopes of returning to the NFL.Pittsburgh Power On November 2, 2010, it was announced that Morelli was signed by the expansion AFL team, the Pittsburgh Power. He was signed along with 15 other players after an open tryout held a month prior. Along with the former Penn State quarterback, the Power agreed to terms with his high school teammates, Tyrell Herbert and Kenny Lewis. Morelli was cut by the Power in February 2011. He was re-signed on March 25. He was released again.Personal He was the quarterbacks coach at Plum High School in Pittsburgh, before moving to Indianapolis to train under the coaching of former NFL quarterback, Jack Trudeau. After Morelli was done playing professional football, he opened X-Factor Sports Performance & QB Academy located in Westfield, Indiana.Related Research Articles Neil Kennedy O'Donnell is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football at Maryland and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft. During his six seasons with the Steelers, O'Donnell received Pro Bowl honors and helped lead them to a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXX. After leaving Pittsburgh, he was a member of the New York Jets for two seasons and the Cincinnati Bengals for one. O'Donnell spent his last five seasons mostly as a backup with the Tennessee Titans. Charles Anthony Fusina is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was recognized as an All-American. Fusina played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers of the NFL, and the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL. Todd Alan Blackledge is a former American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League (NFL). In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship. A member of the famed Class of 1983, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blackledge is a college football television broadcaster, working for ABC Sports from 1994 through 1998, for CBS Sports from 1999 to 2005, ESPN from 2006 through January 2023, and NBC since February 2023. Derrick Williams is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 18th pick of the 3rd round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He was a wide receiver and 2008 team captain for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Burton Michael Robinson is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He is currently an analyst for the NFL Network and NBC. The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Daniel Murphy Connor is an American football coach and a former linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. He played college football at Penn State University, where he is currently a defensive analyst. The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Daryll Lawrence Clark is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a free agent in 2010. He played collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions. From 2005 until 2009, Clark was the Nittany Lions' all-time passing touchdowns leader, as well as numerous other passing records. Clark was recruited to Penn State out of Ursuline High School in Youngstown by way of The Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. Clark has also been a member of the Omaha Nighthawks, Chicago Rush and Myrtle Beach Freedom. Kevin James Thompson is a former professional American football quarterback. He has played in the National Football League (NFL), NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League (AFL). He was a two-year starter at Penn State University. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns following the 2000 NFL draft and played there for one season. The 2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Big Ten Conference. Team captains for the season were wide receiver Brett Brackett and defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu. Robert Craig Bolden, Jr. is a former American football quarterback. After attending St. Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake, Michigan, he played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2010 to 2011. He transferred to Louisiana State University and was a member of the LSU football team from 2012 to 2013. Bolden transferred again and finished his college football career as a member of the 2014 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team. Matthew James McGloin is a former American football quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 2010 to 2012. McGloin was the first walk-on quarterback to start at Penn State since scholarships were reinstated in 1949. The 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno for the first nine games until he was fired in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, with defensive coordinator Tom Bradley taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The team played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, US. They were members of the Big Ten Conference in the newly formed Leaders Division. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in the Leaders Division to be co–division champions with Wisconsin. Due to their head-to-head loss to Wisconsin, they did not represent the division in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game. They were invited to the TicketCity Bowl where they lost to Houston 14–30. Gerald Davon Hodges Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Penn State. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2013 NFL Draft. Richard Thomas "Trace" McSorley III is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Terry M. Smith is an American college football coach and former player. He played college football at Penn State and is currently the associate head coach, defensive recruiting coordinator and Cornerbacks coach for his college alma mater. Sean Burke Clifford is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State. He was the starting quarterback and team captain for the Nittany Lions from 2019 through 2022. William Donovan Levis is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and Kentucky before being selected by the Titans in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.References ↑ Archived January 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine ; ↑ ESPN RISE Elite 11#2003 ; ↑ White, Mike (2003-08-21). "Penn Hills' Anthony Morelli decides on Pitt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.; ↑ Morelli facing high expectations - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [ permanent dead link ]; ↑ Fittipaldo, Ray (2006-12-15). "Morelli critical of former high school coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.; ↑ "Cardinals, Morelli agrees to terms". KFFL. 2008-04-27. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved 2008-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link); 1 2 Adamski, Chris (2009-08-06). "PG East: Morelli finds niche as Plum quarterbacks coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .; 1 2 Musselman, Ron (2010-02-19). "Former PSU QB to have workout during NFL Combine". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2010-02-21.; External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony Morelli . Anthony Morelli at NFL.com ; Penn State Nittany Lions bio ; This page is based on this Wikipedia article ; Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.; Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Career Arena statistics
TD-INT:
TD-INT:	14-4
Passing yards:	824
QB Rating:	92.01
	Player stats at NFL.com · ArenaFan.com
v ; t ; e ; Penn State Nittany Lions starting quarterbacks
	Shorty Miller (1910–1913); Harold Hess (1919); Glenn Killinger (1920–1921); Bill Smaltz (1939–1941); Elwood Petchel (1946–1948); Owen Dougherty (1949); Vince O'Bara (1950); Bob Szajna (1951); Tony Rados (1952–1953); Don Bailey (1954); Bobby Hoffman (1955); Milt Plum (1956); Al Jacks (1957); Richie Lucas (1958–1959); Galen Hall (1960–1961); Pete Liske (1962–1963); Gary Wydman (1964); Jack White (1965); Tom Sherman (1966–1967); Chuck Burkhart (1968–1969); Mike Cooper (1970); John Hufnagel (1971–1972); Tom Shuman (1973–1974); John Andress (1975); Chuck Fusina (1976–1978); Dayle Tate (1979); Todd Blackledge (1980–1982); Doug Strang (1983–1984); John Shaffer (1985–1986); Matt Knizner (1987); Tom Bill (1988); Tony Sacca (1988–1991); John Sacca (1992); Kerry Collins (1991–1994); Wally Richardson (1995–1996); Mike McQueary (1997); Kevin Thompson (1998–1999); Rashard Casey (2000); Matt Seneca (2001); Zack Mills (2001–2004); Michael Robinson (2005); Anthony Morelli (2006–2007); Daryll Clark (2008–2009); Rob Bolden (2010–2011); Matt McGloin (2010–2012); Christian Hackenberg (2013–2015); Trace McSorley (2016–2018); Sean Clifford (2019–2022); Will Levis (2019–2020); Drew Allar (2023–present);
v ; t ; e ; Pittsburgh Power starting quarterbacks
	Bernard Morris (2011); Kevin McCabe (2011); Anthony Morelli (2011); Chris Wallace (2011); Bill Stull (2011–2012); Andrico Hines (2012); Bryan Randall (2012); Jordan Jefferson (2013); Steven Sheffield (2013); Derek Cassidy (2013); Shane Austin (2013); Tommy Grady (2014);