Watchout for Justin Morris and Vernon Hills
Vernon Hills High School is home to one of the state’s elite tight end prospects, senior Justin Morris Justin Morris 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Vernon Hills | 2021 IL . He broke through as a junior, accounting for…
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Continue ReadingVernon Hills High School is home to one of the state’s elite tight end prospects, senior Justin Morris Justin Morris 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Vernon Hills | 2021 IL . He broke through as a junior, accounting for 41 receptions for 468 yards and 8 touchdowns, on his way to being named All-Area and All-conference. After an impressive junior campaign, the offers came flowing in for Morris. Currently, Harvard, Eastern Michigan, Yale, Bucknell, Georgetown, Eastern Illinois, Indiana State, Fordham, and Ball State have all offered him scholarships to continue his football career after graduation, “I’ve heard most from Ivy League’s recently, but I get Twitter DM’s from bigger schools every now and then.” That’s something to keep an eye on; currently, Morris holds two FBS offers from Eastern Michigan and Ball State. He had big visit plans, but those were unfortunately halted, “Before the pandemic, I had visited Northern Illinois and Ball State, but I had planned visits to Northwestern, Purdue, and other Midwest schools, but those were obviously canceled.”
Don’t be shocked if a few more FBS schools come into the picture, in particular those from a Power-five conference. There is one school that could be tough for Morris to turn down, “I don’t think I have a dream school in mind, but if I had an opportunity with a school like Northwestern, I don’t think I would be able to pass up on that.” Currently, the Wildcats have 13 commitments, one of which is a tight end, Lawson Albright from North Carolina. If the Wildcats are going to enter the picture, they may have to do it soon as Morris thinks he may have a decision time in mind, “Hopefully, right before the season, but things could always change, so I’m not entirely sure right now.” For now, he’s training hard and preparing for the 2020 season. He’s put on fifteen pounds this off-season and ready to get back on the gridiron. Vernon Hills had a tough end to their 2019 season, finishing 5-4, but not qualifying for the IHSA playoffs,
“We had gotten out to a great start and injuries to some of our key players held us back, and we felt those injuries, especially in conference play. We barely missed the cut for the playoffs, but it was a good jump from where we were the previous year.”
However, the Cougars have a very talented group returning for the 2020 season, led by Linebacker & fellow Division one recruit,
Jackson Wiegold
Jackson
Wiegold
6'2" | 220 lbs | LB
Vernon Hills | 2021
IL
. Two names to remember as they enter this fall are junior wide receiver Jake Pieper and senior athlete Ryan Mann. Mann was off to an impressive start in 2019 before his season was cut short due to injury. Morris had very high praise for him,
“Ryan Mann is not getting the attention he deserves from colleges and the rest of the state. His season was cut short with a broken leg in week five but was our key guy up to that point. He will be a stud for us again this year.”
Vernon Hills is a very talented football team entering 2020, and I’d say their best since their 2016 State Runner-up squad. Head coach Bill Bellecomo will have his sideline littered with college prospects this fall. Morris knows this could be a special year, “We are going to be dangerous this year with almost all of our defense and 7 to 8 guys returning on offense. If we stay healthy, we will no doubt be a team to watch out for come November.” If the Cougars avoid the injury bug, this most certainly is a team that can contend and make a late-round push in the Class 6A playoffs.