{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1992)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Desmond Morgan | image = Desmond Morgan (8647269996) (1).jpg | alt = | caption = Morgan in 2013 | current_title = Senior defensive analyst | current_team = Memphis | current_conference = AAC | current_record = | contract = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|9|9}} | birth_place = Holland, Michigan, U.S | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = University of Michigan | player_years1 = 2011–2015 | player_team1 = Michigan | player_positions = Linebacker | coach_years1 = 2016 | coach_team1 = Wayne State (MI) (GA) | coach_years2 = 2017–2018 | coach_team2 = Maryland (GA) | coach_years3 = 2019 | coach_team3 = Minnesota (STQC) | coach_years4 = 2020–2022 | coach_team4 = Indiana State (LB) | coach_years5 = 2023–present | coach_team5 = Memphis (senior DA) | overall_record = | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = * ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman (2011) * ''College Football News'' All-Freshman honorable mention (2011) | coaching_records = }}
'''Desmond Morgan''' (born September 9, 1992) is an American college football coach and former linebacker. He is the senior defensive analyst for the University of Memphis, a position he has held since 2023. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 2011 to 2015. He was a 2011 ESPN.com and BTN.com Big Ten All-Freshman selection as well as a 2011 ''College Football News'' All-Freshman honorable mention for the 2011 team.
==High school career== When Morgan was in high school, he worked out at a local gym in Holland, Michigan, that his father, Scott Morgan, went on to purchase in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/20170115/desmond-morgan-father-scott-take-over-anytime-fitness-on-hollands-north-side|title=Desmond Morgan, father Scott take over Anytime Fitness on Holland's north side|access-date=August 8, 2017|date=January 15, 2017|work=Holland Sentinel|author=D’Addona, Dan}}</ref> He played linebacker and quarterback for West Ottawa High School, earning ''The Holland Sentinel'' Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2010.<ref name=DMUMD/><ref name=DM44/> In high school, Morgan was rated as the 24th and 42nd best high school football inside or middle linebacker in the national class of 2011 by ESPN and Scout.com, respectively.<ref name=DMESPN>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/125815/desmond-morgan|title=Desmond Morgan|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=|publisher=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=8&c=1&nid=4810867|title=#48 Desmond Morgan|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=|publisher=Scout.com}}</ref> Rivals.com rated him as the 25th best football player in the state of Michigan.<ref name=DMRdc>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Desmond-Morgan-104601|title=Desmond Morgan|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=|publisher=Rivals.com}}</ref> Morgan also played quarterback in high school.<ref name="DM44"/> Morgan was a Michigan Wolverines fan growing up,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-814722536022222825/west-ottawa-linebacker-desmond-morgan-commits-to-michigan/|title=West Ottawa linebacker Desmond Morgan commits to Michigan|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=December 17, 2010|work=Grand Rapids Press|author=Greer, Cris}}</ref> and he committed to Michigan in early February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jon Schultz|title=Desmond Morgan's signing with U-M football adds to growing legacy for Holland area|newspaper=The Holland Sentinel|date=February 2, 2011|url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x1779419552/Desmond-Morgans-signing-with-U-M-football-adds-to-growing-legacy-for-Holland-area|access-date=May 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205043133/http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x1779419552/Desmond-Morgans-signing-with-U-M-football-adds-to-growing-legacy-for-Holland-area|archive-date=February 5, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Chaney|title=Blizzard won't keep West Ottawa's Desmond Morgan from sending letter of intent to Michigan|newspaper=The Grand Rapids Press|date=February 1, 2011|url=http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-1176637550465329304/blizzard-wont-keep-west-ottawas-desmond-morgan-from-sending-letter-of-intent-to-michigan/}}</ref> {{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2011}} {{College athlete recruit entry | recruit = Desmond Morgan | position = ILB | hometown = Holland, Michigan | highschool = West Ottawa (MI) | feet = 6 | inches = 1 | weight = 225 | 40 = 4.675 | commitdate = December 23, 2010 | scout stars = 3 | rivals stars = 3 | espn grade = 78 }} {{College athlete recruit end | 40 = | year = 2011 | rivals ref title = Michigan Football Commitments | scout ref title = 2011 Michigan Football Commits | espn ref title = ESPN | rivals school = michigan | scout s = 162 | espn schoolid = 130 | scout overall = 42 (MLB) | rivals overall = 25 (MI) | espn overall = 24 (ILB) | accessdate = January 5, 2012 | bball = }}
==College career==
===2011 season=== Morgan tweaked his hamstring at the end of training camp, which limited him early in the season.<ref name=NHltwRaMpl>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/notebook-ryan-morgan-play-way-hoke-wants-linebacker|title=Notebook: Hoke likes the way Ryan and Morgan play linebacker|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=October 31, 2011|work=Michigan Daily|author=Rohan, Tim}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://annarbor.com/sports/um-football/brady-hoke-on-iowa-road-games-and-more-from-his-weekly-press-conference/|title=Brady Hoke on Iowa, road games and more from his weekly press conference|date=October 31, 2011|access-date=January 5, 2012|work=AnnArbor.com|author=Cunningham, Pete}}</ref> Morgan is credited with starting the second game against Notre Dame on September 10,<ref name=DM44>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/morgan_desmond00.html|title=Desmond Morgan 44|access-date=January 5, 2012|work=MGoBlue.com|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref> however, he struggled with his hamstring in the rivalry game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-eastern-michigan-positions-trending-football/|title=Breaking down how Michigan's position groups are trending, including the big winner: Linebackers|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=January 5, 2012|work=AnnArbor.com|author=Meinke, Kyle}}</ref> Brandon Hawthorne started the next five games. After seven games and a bye week, Morgan replaced Hawthorne as the starting weak-side linebacker based on superior performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigans-desmond-morgan-to-start-at-linebacker-becoming-5th-freshmen-to-earn-pronounced-role-on-def/|title=Michigan's Desmond Morgan to start at linebacker, becoming 5th freshmen to earn pronounced role on defense|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=October 28, 2011|work=AnnArbor.com|author=Meinke, Kyle}}</ref> In announcing Morgan's promotion to the starting lineup, head coach Brady Hoke said, "Desmond's got a great future. He's doing a lot of good things. We're excited about him."<ref>{{cite news|author=Alan Babbitt|title=Desmond Morgan to make second start for Michigan football team vs. Purdue|newspaper=The Holland Sentinel|date=October 29, 2011|url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x671078837/Desmond-Morgan-to-make-second-start-for-Michigan-football-team-vs-Purdue|access-date=May 4, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125164650/http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x671078837/Desmond-Morgan-to-make-second-start-for-Michigan-football-team-vs-Purdue|archive-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In his second career start on October 29, 2011, against Purdue, he had a team-high nine tackles.<ref name=NHltwRaMpl/><ref>{{cite news|author=Alan Babbitt|title=Brady Hoke calls Michigan football's Desmond Morgan 'very instinctive football player'|newspaper=The Holland Sentinel|date=October 30, 2011|url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1535088802/Brady-Hoke-calls-Desmond-Morgan-a-very-instinctive-football-player|access-date=May 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104011605/http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1535088802/Brady-Hoke-calls-Desmond-Morgan-a-very-instinctive-football-player|archive-date=January 4, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Morgan established career highs with 10 tackles in both of the final two games of the season: he posted 5 solo (including his only quarterback sack of the season) and five assists on November 26 in The Game against Ohio State and then he had seven solo tackles and three assists in the January 3, 2012 Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/playerDetail.jsp?yr=2011&org=418&player=44|title=Team: Michigan: Year: 2011 Thru 12/31/11: Player: Desmond Morgan|access-date=January 5, 2012|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association}}</ref> For the season, he earned 2011 Big Ten All-Freshman team recognition from both ESPN.com and BTN.com as well as 2011 College Football News All-Freshman honorable mention honors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/41139/espn-coms-big-ten-all-freshman-team-2|title=ESPN.com's Big Ten All-Freshman team|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=December 13, 2011|publisher=ESPN|author=Rittenberg, Adam and Brian Bennett}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://btn.com/2011/12/12/btn-coms-2011-big-ten-all-freshman-team/|title=BTN.com's 2011 Big Ten All-Freshman Team|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=December 12, 2011|publisher=Big Ten Network|author=Dienhart, Tom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/1137274.html|title=2011 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team|access-date=January 5, 2012|date=December 9, 2011|publisher=Scout.com|work=College Football News|author=Cirminiello, Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107185848/http://cfn.scout.com/2/1137274.html|archive-date=January 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2012 season=== Morgan missed the September 15, 2012, game against Massachusetts due to injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annarbor.com/mi/wolverines/2012/09/michigan_down_5_starters_with/#.UFXm8I1lScx|title=Michigan down 5 starters with Desmond Morgan (head) Stephen Hopkins (hamstring) out against UMass|access-date=September 16, 2012|date=September 15, 2012|author=Meinke, Kyle|work=AnnArbor.com}}</ref>
On October 13, 2012, Michigan designated Gerald R. Ford's former jersey, No. 48, as a Michigan Football Legend Jersey. Morgan was honored as the first recipient of the Ford legend jersey, switching from the No. 44 jersey to No. 48.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101312aaa.html|title=Ford Named Michigan Football Legend; Morgan to Wear No. 48 Jersey|access-date=October 19, 2012|date=October 13, 2012|work=MGoBlue.com|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=LB wears Gerald Ford's number|work=ESPN.com|date=October 13, 2012|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8499517/desmond-morgan-michigan-wolverines-linebacker-awarded-no-48-jersey-former-us-president-gerald-r-ford}}</ref> He earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/genrel/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012FallAcademicAllBigTen.pdf|title=2012 Fall Academic All-Big Ten|access-date=December 6, 2012|date=December 6, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=BigTen.org|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201025343/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/genrel/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012FallAcademicAllBigTen.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2013 season=== In week 3, against Akron during a third down and 1 goal line stand, Morgan made a key tackle for a loss in the final 20 seconds to preserve the 28–24 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themichigantimes.com/article/2013/09/michigan-zaps-zips|title=Michigan Zaps Zips|access-date=September 28, 2013|date=September 24, 2013|work=Michigan Times|author=Rutter, Eric|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001154653/http://www.themichigantimes.com/article/2013/09/michigan-zaps-zips|archive-date=October 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=332570130&period=4|title=Akron 24 (1-2, 0-2 away); (11) Michigan 28 (3-0, 3-0 home)|access-date=September 28, 2013|date=September 14, 2013|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> In the fourth quarter of the fourth game against Connecticut on September 21, Morgan made a one-handed interception to preserve a 24–21 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/sports/ncaafootball/college-roundup.html|title=Michigan Hangs On After Scare, Again|access-date=September 28, 2013|date=September 21, 2013|work=The New York Times|author=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/notebook-desmond-morgan|title=Notebook: Desmond Morgan, defense bail out stagnant offense|access-date=September 28, 2013|date=September 21, 2013|work=Michigan Daily|author=Vukelich, Liz}}</ref> Morgan was named Athlon Sports Big Ten Defensive player of the week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/umichfootball/status/382129100149637121|title=@umichfootball status update|access-date=September 28, 2013|date=September 23, 2013|publisher=Twitter|author=University of Michigan}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2024}}
===2014 season=== He only appeared in the season opener for the 2014 Michigan Wolverines football team against Appalachian State before injuring his hand and missing the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/10/michigans_desmond_morgan_to_ap.html|title=Michigan's Desmond Morgan done for the year, Jabrill Peppers' status uncertain|access-date=November 12, 2015|date=October 27, 2014|publisher=MLive.com|author=Baumgardner, Nick}}</ref>
===2015 season=== Morgan was granted a fifth year of eligibility after the NCAA approved his medical hardship waiver.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/12305794/desmond-morgan-michigan-wolverines-gets-fifth-year-eligibility |title=Desmond Morgan granted fifth year |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |date=February 10, 2015 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> Through the first nine game of the 2015 season, Morgan was Michigan's leading tackler with 57 total tackles.<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Michigan Football Statistics (9-game Totals)|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=November 9, 2015|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/110715aad.html}}</ref> Following the 2015 Big Ten Conference football season, he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113015aaa.html|title=Lewis, Peppers Lead Big Ten Defensive Yearly Honors|access-date=December 2, 2015|date=November 30, 2015|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=MGoBlue.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113015aae.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203192134/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113015aae.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2015|title=Defense and Special Teams Awards: Eight students receive individual honors, including inaugural Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year|access-date=December 2, 2015|date=November 30, 2015|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=BigTen.org}}</ref> He won the 2015 Roger Zatkoff Award as the team's top linebacker. He finished his career as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and Morgan was also voted to the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection.<ref name=DMUMD/>
==Professional career== Morgan went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite news |first=Orion |last=Sang |title=Undrafted Wolverines sign with NFL teams |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/football/several-undrafted-wolverines-sign-nfl-teams |work=The Michigan Daily |date=April 30, 2016 |access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> He joined the staff of the Wayne State Warriors as a graduate assistant for the 2016 season. The following season he took the same position with the Maryland Terrapins.<ref name=DMUMD>{{cite web|url=http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=211506389|title=Desmond Morgan: Graduate Assistant|access-date=August 8, 2017|website=UMTerps.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/morgan_desmond00.html Official bio at Michigan] * [http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/playerDetail.jsp?yr=2012&org=418&player=44 Morgan] at NCAA * [http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/players/playerpage/1868377/desmond-morgan Morgan] at CBS Sports * [https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/511701/desmond-morgan Morgan] at ESPN.com * [http://www.michigandaily.com/search/apachesolr_search/Desmond%20Morgan Morgan archive] at ''Michigan Daily'' * [http://www.annarbor.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?blog_id=1&tag=Desmond%20Morgan&limit=20 Morgan archive] at ''AnnArbor.com''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Desmond}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Holland, Michigan Category:Coaches of American football from Michigan Category:Players of American football from Michigan Category:American football linebackers Category:Memphis Tigers football coaches Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football coaches Category:Wayne State Warriors football coaches Category:Maryland Terrapins football coaches Category:Indiana State Sycamores football coaches