For starters, he is fast. Linebacker Michael Morgan, who is replacing Brian Cushing at strong side linebacker this week as Cushing replaces Rey Maualuga (knee), ran the 100 and 200 meters and relays in high school. He said he ran a 4.4 40 in the spring.
The redshirt sophomore, who sat out the opener while still recovering from a shoulder injury from fall camp, is making his first career start Saturday against Oregon.
“I’ve been waiting for a long time. It’s finally here,” Morgan said. “We got All Americans everywhere. Whenever it came it came.”
He played sparingly at linebacker against Ohio State and Oregon State, although Coach Pete Carroll called him part of the “core” of the special teams. At 227 pounds, Morgan is playing at his heaviest weight. How he responds to the physicality of the position will be monitored closely.
“He’s new, he’s inexperienced,” Carroll said. “We’ll have to watch him and make sure he’s adjusting well as the game goes on.”
When I asked linebackers coach Ken Norton if he gave Morgan any advice about his big opportunity, he said, simply, “Play fast.”
Carroll opted to start Morgan and move Cushing, rather than start Chris Galippo (Servite High) at middle linebacker. Galippo has not played this season as he has been recovering from a back surgery that sidelined him 13 weeks.
“After watching Galippo, it’s too much to ask of him to be at the top of his game with just a couple weeks of preparation,” Carroll said. “But he’s ready to play. We won’t hesitate to put him in.”
