#44 James Morris Season 2013-14

Hawk-Item – – Just the sixth player in school history to record 400 career tackles . . . first linebacker to lead team in sacks since sacks became official statistic in 1986 . . . recorded 400 career stops, along with 26 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and six interceptions . . . tied for second in the Big Ten and ranked 18th nationally in tackles for loss (1.31) . . . tied for second in the Big Ten in QB sacks (8) . . . tied for third in the Big Ten with four interceptions . . . ranked eighth in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.2) . . . ranked third in the Big Ten and tied for 31st nationally in tackles per game (9.4) in 2012 . . . ranked fifth in the Big Ten and tied for 37th nationally in tackles per game (9.2) in 2011 . . . one of six seniors named to 2013 Leadership Group . . . one of four juniors named to 2012 Leadership Group . . . one of four sophomores named to 2011 Leadership Group . . . one of nine true freshmen to see action in 2010.

2013 Honors – – Named to Capital One first team Academic All-America team . . . Academic All-Big Ten for third straight year . . . Permanent Team Captain, Defense . . . Hayden Fry ‘Extra Heartbeat’ Award, Defense . . . Forest Evashevski Scholastic Achievement Award . . . Iron Hawk Award . . . Players Choice Award, Defense . . . Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award . . . fourth team All-America by Phil Steele . . . second team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . second team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, PHil Steele and College Sports Madness . . . named to CoSIDA/Capital One District VI Academic All-America team for second straight year. . . one of four finalists for 2013 Lott IMPACT Trophy . . . one of 16 players in the nation to receive National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award . . . one of 12 finalists for the 2013 Wuerffel Trophy . . . named CFPA National Performer and Linebacker of the Week for his play in 38-17 win at Nebraska . . . also named Athlon Sports and College Sports Madness Big Ten Player of the Week vs. Nebraska . . . named Lott IMPACT Trophy and Big Ten Conference defensive Player of the Week in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern . . . named Big Ten Conference defensive Player of the Week in 23-7 win at Minnesota . . . named third team mid-season All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . named honorable mention mid-season All-Big Ten by BTN.com . . . 2013 Preseason Honors – – Named to Butkus Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award preseason watch lists . . . named to CFPA Linebacker Trophy preseason Watch List . . . named preseason second team all-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and College Sports Madness . . . 2013 – – started all 13 games at middle linebacker . . . ranked second on team with 107 tackles, including 53 solo stops and 54 assists . . . led team in interceptions (4), tackles for loss (18) and sacks (8) . . . also had two forced fumbles and one recovered fumble . . . started at middle linebacker in 30-27 opening loss to Northern Illinois . . . recorded six tackles vs. NIU, including two solo stops, four assists and two tackles for loss . . . started at middle linebacker in 28-14 win over Missouri State as defense allowed just 197 yards total offense . . . recorded three solo tackles and three assists vs. Missouri State, along with a forced fumble and one pass break-up . . . started at middle linebacker in 27-21 win at Iowa State as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . recorded one solo tackle and three assists at ISU, along with an interception and 27-yard return late in the second quarter that led directly to Iowa field goal . . . started at middle linebacker in 59-3 win over Western Michigan as defense allowed just 209 yards total offense . . . recorded seven tackles, including five solo stops and one tackle for loss, in win over WMU . . . started at middle linebacker in 23-7 win at Minnesota . . . four solo tackles and four assists vs. Minnesota, including one QB sack . . . also had second interception of the season with four minutes remaining to stop final Minnesota drive . . . started at middle linebacker in 26-14 loss to Michigan State . . . recorded 12 tackles vs. MSU, including six solo stops and six assists, along with his third interception of the season . . . started at middle linebacker in 34-24 loss at Ohio State . . . matched career-high with 13 tackles at OSU, including seven solo stops, six assists and a QB sack . . . started at middle linebacker in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern . . . eight tackles vs. Northwestern, including four solo stops and four assists . . . recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, including two QB sacks, along with one recovered fumble vs. Wildcats . . . started at linebacker in 28-9 loss to Wisconsin . . . led team with 12 tackles vs. Badgers, including two tackles for loss and one QB sack . . . started at middle linebacker in 38-14 win at Purdue as defense allowed just 53 net rushing yards . . . recorded three solo tackles and two assists at Purdue, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at middle linebacker in 24-21 win over Michigan as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards and 158 yards total offense . . . shared team lead with eight tackles, including three solo stops and five assists vs. Michigan . . . also had 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass break-up and one QB pressure . . . started at middle linebacker in 38-17 win at Nebraska as defense allowed just 89 net rushing yards . . . recorded 10 tackles, including five solo stops and five assists at Nebraska, along with four tackles for loss and a QB sack . . . also had fourth interception of the season, with 18-yard return leading to Iowa[apos]s first touchdown . . . also had one forced fumble, one pass break-up and a QB pressure . . . started at middle linebacker in 21-14 Outback Bowl loss to LSU . . . eight tackles vs. LSU, including six solo stops and two assists . . . also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and two QB sacks.

2012 Honors – – Permanent Team Captain, defense . . . Hayden Fry ‘Extra Heartbeat’ Award, defense . . . Players Choice Award, defense . . . named to Capital One District VI Academic All-America team . . . Academic All-Big Ten for second straight year . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten by league media . . . third team All-Big Ten by CollegeSportsMadness.com . . . earned honorable mention recognition for linebackers from College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) for his play vs. Iowa State . . . 2012 Preseason Honors – – named to Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Rotary Lombardi Award preseason Watch Lists . . . second team preseason all-Big Ten by Phil Steele[apos]s College Football . . . 2012 – – played in all 12 games, with 11 starts . . . did not start at Michigan, seeing limited action due to injury . . . ranked second on team with 113 tackles, including 52 solo tackles and 61 assists . . . also had nine tackles for loss and 1.5 QB sacks, four pass break-ups, one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble . . . started at middle linebacker in 18-17 win over Northern Illinois as defense allowed just 201 yards total offense . . . recorded four solo tackles and four assists vs. NIU, including one tackle for loss . . . started at middle linebacker in 9-6 loss to Iowa State . . . recorded 12 tackles vs. ISU, including eight solo stops and a pass break-up . . . recovered one ISU fumble and had pass interception and 49-yard return, with both turnovers coming in the red zone to stop ISU scoring threats . . . started at middle linebacker in 27-16 win over Northern Iowa . . . recorded eight tackles vs. UNI, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at middle linebacker in 32-31 loss to Central Michigan . . . recorded 12 tackles vs. CMU, including three solo tackles and nine assists . . . also collected one QB sack, a shared tackle for loss and a QB pressure . . . started at middle linebacker in 31-13 win over Minnesota as defense allowed just 299 yards total offense . . . recorded 10 tackles vs. Minnesota, including four solo stops and six assists . . . also had one QB sack and a pass break-up . . . started at middle linebacker in 19-16 win at Michigan State . . . collected four solo tackles and six assists at MSU, including one tackle for loss, and added one pass break-up . . . started at middle linebacker in 38-14 loss to Penn State . . . recorded 12 tackles vs. PSU, including four solo stops and eight assists . . . started at middle linebacker in 28-17 loss at Northwestern . . . recorded three solo tackles and three assists at Northwestern, and also added a forced fumble to keep Northwestern from a fourth down conversion in the third quarter . . . started at middle linebacker in 24-21 loss at Indiana . . . recorded five solo tackles and one assist at Indiana, including two tackles for loss and a pass break-up . . . started at middle linebacker in 27-24 loss to Purdue . . . recorded 11 tackles vs. Purdue, including five solo tackles and six assists, despite missing part of the contest due to injury . . . saw limited action in 42-17 loss at Michigan due to injury, recording four solo tackles . . . started at middle linebacker in 13-7 loss to Nebraska . . . led team with 13 tackles vs. Nebraska to match career-high, including six solo stops and seven assists, including two tackles for loss.

2011 Honors – – Academic all-Big Ten . . . honorable mention all-Big Ten by both league coaches and media . . . third team all-Big Ten by College Football Madness and Phil Steele. 2011 Preseason Honors – – Second team preseason All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, Lindy[apos]s Football Preview and Phil Steele[apos]s College Football . . . 2011 – – Started all 12 games he played, recording 52 solo tackles and 58 assists to share team lead in tackles . . . also had 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass break-up and one QB pressure . . . started at middle linebacker in 34-9 opening win over Tennessee Tech . . . recorded 10 tackles, including four solo stops, in opening win, along with first career interception and 52 yard return that led to Iowa field goal . . . started at middle linebacker in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State, recording seven solo tackles . . . started at middle linebacker in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh . . . matched career-high with 13 tackles vs. Pitt, including six solo tackles and seven assists . . . started a t middle linebacker in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . recorded five solo tackles and five assists vs. ULM . . . started at middle linebacker in 13-3 loss at Penn State . . . matched career-high with 13 tackles at PSU, including five solo stops and a shared tackle for loss . . . did not see action in 41-31 win over Northwestern due to injury . . . started at middle linebacker in 45-24 win over Indiana . . . recorded 10 tackles vs. Hoosiers, including two solo tackles and eight assists, along with a shared tackle for loss . . . started at weakside linebacker in 22-21 loss at Minnesota . . . matched career high with 13 tackles vs. Gophers, including 10 solo stops and one tackle for loss . . . stasrted at weakside linebacker in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan as defense allowed just 323 yards total offense . . . recorded eight tackles vs. Wolverines, including four solo stops . . . started at weakside linebacker in 37-21 loss to Michigan State, recording four assisted tackles and one QB pressure . . . started at weakside linebacker in 31-21 win at Purdue, recording four solo tackles, including one tackle for loss, as defense allowed just 282 yards total offense . . . started at weakside linebacker in 20-7 loss at Nebraska . . . matched career-high with 13 tackles at Nebraska, colleecting a shared tackle for loss and one pass brreak-up . . . started at weakside linebacker in Insight Bowl loss to Oklahoma, but saw limited action due to injury . . . recorded two solo tackles and three assists as defense allowed just 275 yards total offense.

2010 Honors – – First team Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . third team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele’s College Football . . . Big Ten Conference all-Freshman team by Rivals.com . . . Next Man In Award, Defense . . . 2010 – – saw action in all 13 games, with six starts at middle linebacker . . . ranked fourth in team with 70 tackles, including 23 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and four pass break-ups . . . saw action in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 35-7 win over Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 34-27 loss at Arizona, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-0 win over Ball State, recording two assisted tackles as defense allowed just 112 yards total offense . . . saw action in 24-3 win over Penn State as defense allowed just 54 net rushing yards and 301 yards total offense . . . recorded career-high seven tackles vs. Penn State, along with one pass break-up . . . saw action in 38-28 win at Michigan, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin, recording four assisted tackles . . . started at middle linebacker in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State as defense allowed just 31 net rushing yards and 258 yards total offense . . . recorded career-best nine tackles vs. MSU in first career start . . . started at middle linebacker in 18-13 win at Indiana as defense allowed just 91 net rushing yards . . . matched career-high with nine tackles for the second straight week . . . also had a shared tackle for loss, two pass break-ups and a QB pressure vs. Hoosiers . . . started at middle linebacker in 21-17 loss at Northwestern . . . collected career-best 13 tackles vs. Wildcats, including seven solo tackles and first career QB sack . . . started at middle linebacker in 20-17 loss to Ohio State . . . recorded nine tackles vs. OSU, including one solo stop and eight assists . . . started at middle linebacker in 27-24 loss at Minnesota, recording six solo tackles, two assists and one pass break-up . . . started at middle linebacker in 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri . . . recorded five solo tackles and two assists vs. Missouri, including one tackle for loss.

High school honors – – Gatorade Player of the Year in Iowa as a junior and senior . . . three time first team all-state, including elite team selecton as a senior . . . three-time all-district selection . . named district offensive MVP as a sophomore, junior and senior . . . Career – – helped prep team win 41 straight games and three consecutive Class 2A state titles as linebacker and running back . . . high school team went undefeated from sophomore to senior season . . . team posted 11-2 record during freshman year, reaching state championship game . . . also played quarterback during portions of senior season, passing for 500 yards and seven touchdowns . . . team captain as a senior . . . ranks among top 10 in state of Iowa for career rushing yards, touchdowns and points scored . . . rushed for 2,247 yards and scored 40 touchdowns as a senior . . . gained 6,646 career rushing yards . . . collected 276 career tackles and four interceptions . . . holds school records for single season and career for total yards and scoring . . . set school record for touchdowns in a single game . . . rushed for 2,100 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior . . . rushed for 1,900 yards and scored 32 touchdowns as a sophomore . . . also lettered four times in wrestling and track.

Personal – – Born 11/20/91 . . . political science/pre-law major . . . member of National Honor Society and posted a 3.95 prep GPA . . . parents are Lynn and Greg Morris . . . high school coach was Kevin Miller.