Way to go Jordan!

The following article appeared in the Jamestown News Wednesday June 2, 2010.  Ogi does a great job of covering all of Ragsdale's athletic teams.  When you see him be sure to tell him thanks!

Morris inks with Lenoir-Rhyne

by Ogi Overman

The Morris family were all on hand Wednesday to watch Jordan sign a letter of intent to Lenoir-Rhyne College. They are (L-R): dad Bill, mom Ronda, Jordan, older brother Matt and younger sister Jenna.

For a football team that had already seen eight of its seniors earn college scholarships, plus two more who opted for collegiate baseball scholarships, Jordan Morris was the icing on the cake. Last Wednesday Ragsdale High School held one more signing day so that the 265-pound offensive lineman could ink an academic scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne College. Being a Division III school, it is

prohibited from granting athletic scholarships, which suited Morris just fine, given that he will graduate with a 3.32 gpa and made 1660 on the SAT.

Morris already has his career goals in focus, setting his sights on a double major in sports management and pre-law."I think that would give me the basis for becoming a sports agent," he said. "But I'd also love to go into coaching. Either way I'd be giving something back by sharing my experience with the younger generation."

Still, as gifted academically as he is, Morris was not nearly ready to hang up the cleats after a sterling prep career.  "I just really had the desire to play college football and just really went after it," he explained. "I talked to the coach and expressed a desire to play for Lenoir-Rhyne. I followed through on that and kept pursuing it. And he returned the favor and asked if I'd like to play for them. So it all worked out."

Another benefit of playing for a Division III school is that Morris will be able to play two sports. He was Ragsdale's shot put champ on the track team and intends to join the Bears track team as well.  "They've already told me I was going to redshirt (in football) my freshman year, but I'll be on the track team as a freshman," he said. "Quite a few of the football players there do that, so I expect to be able to do both."

Morris accepted two scholarships totaling $82,400 to Lenoir-Rhyne, turning down a $36,400 grant from Liberty University and a $34,000 offer from Carson Newman.

Said a proud Ragsdale head football coach Tommy Norwood, "What's so good about this class is that five of these kids earned academic scholarships. Out of 25 seniors, almost half of them are going on to play college ball. That's the highest number we've ever had here,” adding, "We've already heard from 30 colleges about next year's group. But this one is special, really special."

Ogi Overman can be reached at (336) 841-4933 or jtowneditor@northstate.net.