Michigan State University Athletics
Morris Featured On Rimington Trophy Watch List
3/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 31, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior Chris Morris is listed among 35 preseason candidates for the 2004 Rimington Trophy, which is presented annually to college football's top center.
The 6-foot-4, 293-pound Morris started all 13 games at center in 2003 and graded out 90 percent or better in 10 of 12 regular-season games. The Lambertville, Mich., native ranked second on the team in pancake blocks with 46. He produced his top grade of the 2003 season vs. Illinois, scoring 98 percent while recording seven pancakes. Morris graded 96 percent vs. Penn State, including three knockdowns. He scored 95 percent each vs. Notre Dame (seven pancakes), Minnesota and Michigan.
"The knock on Chris Morris when he reported for preseason camp in 2001 (true freshman) was that he was too light (285 pounds) to play the center position," Michigan State offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said. "We knew Chris had tremendous athleticism and we anticipated that he'd grow into the position.
"His greatest asset is his ability to move laterally along the line of scrimmage. We really feel good about him being the anchor of our offensive line in 2004. We believe that he has all the tools to become a special player."
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Morris has graded out 90 percent or better in 19 of 21 games played, while recording 57 career pancakes.
Morris is one of six Big Ten centers being considered for the Rimington Trophy, joining Iowa's Brian Ferentz, Michigan's Mark Bihl, Minnesota's Greg Eslinger, Ohio State's Nick Mangold and Wisconsin's Donovan Raiola.
The award is named in honor of former Nebraska All-American Dave Rimington, a two-time Outland Trophy winner (1981-82) as the nation's outstanding interior lineman. Past recipients of the Rimington Trophy include: Virginia Tech's Jake Grove (2003), Miami's Brett Romberg (2002), Ohio State's LeCharles Bentley (2001) and Nebraska's Dominic Raiola (2000).
The Rimington Trophy winner is determined by the consensus center from four existing All-America teams: American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America. The recipient will be announced in mid-December, with formal presentation of the trophy to be made at a later date at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb.
