Maurice Morris

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Maurice Morris
Maurice-Morris-2008-11-02-vsEagles.jpg
Morris after a game on November 2, 2008
No. 20, 28
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1979-12-01) December 1, 1979 (age 44)
Chester, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Chester
College: Oregon
NFL draft: 2002  / round: 2 / pick: 54
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:3,648
Rushing average:4.2
Rushing touchdowns:13
Receptions:151
Receiving yards:1,163
Receiving touchdowns:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Maurice Autora Morris (born December 1, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. [1]

Contents

Early life

Morris attended Chester High School in Chester, South Carolina. As a senior, he rushed for over 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns. He holds several school records including: Most Yards Gained (3,708); Most Carries (593); Most Touchdowns Scored: (45); Most Points Scored: (298); and All-Purpose Yards Gained: (4,487).

Morris began his college career at Fresno City College in 1998. He then went to the University of Oregon, where he became the starting running back and helped the Ducks to a 2002 Fiesta Bowl victory. In the Fiesta Bowl, he ran for a highlight-reel 49-yard touchdown, during which he landed on top of a defender and got up without touching the ground. [2]

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Morris was the Seattle Seahawks primary kickoff returner between 2002 and 2004. He was consistent though unspectacular and was supplanted by Josh Scobey for kick returning duties in 2005. Morris saw limited action behind Shaun Alexander, the 2005 MVP, though his contributions did not go unnoticed by teammates. Alexander told the Seattle Times on August 17, 2006, that Morris could start for at least ten different teams in the NFL and could produce a thousand rushing yards and eight or nine touchdowns if given the opportunity.

In the 2005 playoffs when the Seahawks played the Washington Redskins, Alexander went out with a concussion and Morris filled in capably, helping the Seahawks to victory.

During the 2006 season, Alexander was out for 6 games and Morris filled in. He finished the season with 604 rushing yards playing all 16 regular season games. His best season to date is the 2007 season where he finished with 628 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown. He played 14 games during the regular season.

When the Seahawks signed Julius Jones and released Shaun Alexander prior to the 2008 season, it appeared Morris would be the backup again. While Jones did get more carries on the season (158 to Morris' 132), Morris arguably contributed more effectively to the Seahawks' running game. Consequently, Morris replaced Jones as the Seahawks' feature back during the latter part of the season. In the final 6 weeks of the season, Morris had 93 carries compared to Jones' 19.

Detroit Lions

On February 27, 2009, Morris signed a three-year, $7 million deal with the Detroit Lions. [3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2002 SEA 110321534.82403258.3120
2003 SEA 161382396.34304328.0131
2004 SEA 150301264.21209535.9120
2005 SEA 162712884.14915489.6200
2006 SEA 1681616043.829011464.2270
2007 SEA 1461406284.5464232139.3341
2008 SEA 1361325744.3450191367.2132
2009 DET 143933844.1642262108.1190
2010 DET 147903363.7265251706.8160
2011 DET 165803164.0311262308.8161
145388673,6484.264131511,1637.7345

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2003 SEA 10144.040000.000
2004 SEA 10294.550000.000
2005 SEA 3025732.910022211.0160
2006 SEA 207233.370000.000
2007 SEA 207121.760000.000
2011 DET 10000.000000.000
100421212.910022211.0160

Personal life

Morris is the cousin of New Orleans Saints linebacker D'Marco Jackson.

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References

  1. "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. "Harrington's four TD passes light up Colorado 38-16". cnnsi.com. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  3. "Lions sign RB Morris". detnews.com.

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