Desert Pines High School running back Isaiah Morris runs with the ball during practice at the school Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015.
Published Friday, March 18, 2016 | 1:30 p.m.
Updated Friday, March 18, 2016 | 2:38 p.m.
Related Content
Isaiah Morris may just be 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds, but when the Desert Pines running back gets the ball in his hands, he’s hard to catch.
That’s a good thing for the UNLV football team.
Morris, who rushed for 1,461 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2015, verbally committed today to the Rebels. He joins teammate and childhood friend Marckell Grayson as a Rebel commit for 2017.
Morris’ Twitter handle is @Speedy_Morris in reference to his 4.49-second speed in the 40-yard dash. That speed was on display in the season opener last fall against power Arbor View, where Morris rushed for 239 yards and two touchdowns — including an 82-yard touchdown run — in a dominating performance.
Last offseason, UNLV received a pair of springtime verbal commitments from local power Bishop Gorman. This offseason, the Rebels grabbed two commitments from another power — respected Division I-A school Desert Pines.
They initially were teammates in second grade with the Pop Warner Redskins — Grayson at quarterback; Morris as a cornerback — in forming a strong friendship. When Grayson committed three weeks ago to the Rebels, he vowed to bring Morris with him.
“Marckell and I have been teammates since we were little in elementary school. We always talked about continuing on together (to college),” Morris said. “So, we picked UNLV. It’s our hometown. It’s where our support is.”
UNLV has offered a scholarship to five from Desert Pines’ 2017 class. Grayson and Morris have already committed; the other four are still in play. They appear to be firm believers in second-year Rebel coach Tony Sanchez.
"He brings all of that energy," Morris said of Sanchez. "He changed around Gorman. He'll change around UNLV."
National signing day, when verbal commitments become official with the signing of an intent letter, isn’t until February. Until then, Morris — who also has an offer from Hawaii — will continue to receive interest from other programs.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy