Morgan Green facts for kids

Morgan Green, born on March 7, 1987, is a former American football player. He played both in high school and college. Morgan was a talented running back for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland. He also played football for Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland. There, he became one of the best rushers in Maryland's history.

Morgan Green's Early Life and High School Football

Morgan Green was born in White Plains, Maryland. His parents are James and Denise Green. He went to Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland. He was a starting player in football for three years.

Sophomore Season Success

In 2002, when he was a sophomore, Morgan ran for 1,131 yards. He also scored 18 touchdowns. This was the most touchdowns for any player his age in the Washington, D.C. area. Even with this success, he wanted to do better. He worked very hard in the weight room during the off-season.

Junior Year Achievements

The next year, Morgan had an amazing season. He ran for 2,630 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. He carried the ball 360 times. Green ran for over 200 yards in eight different games. He also set a new school rushing record against Leonardtown High School. He was chosen as a top player for the all-state team. The Washington Post also named him an All-Met player. He was part of the George Michael's Golden 11 team. He was also named the most valuable player for his conference.

Senior Season and State Records

In 2004, during his senior year, Morgan ran for 1,363 yards. He scored 23 touchdowns on 209 carries. He did this even though he missed six games because of an injury. That year, he earned second-team all-state honors. He also received first-team All-SMAC honors. Morgan wanted to gain many yards and challenge the state record for rushing in a single season. However, Lackey High's strong defense often helped the offense score quickly. This meant less running for him. Morgan said it was a "big relief" when the defense made plays. At the end of his high school career, Morgan Green was the fifth-leading rusher in Maryland state history.

College Recruitment and Preparation

Many colleges were interested in Morgan Green. ESPN ranked him as the eighth-best fullback prospect in the country. PrepStar and SuperPrep both named him an All-American. SuperPrep also ranked him as the 14th-best running back prospect. Rivals.com said he was the sixth-best player in Maryland. They also ranked him as the 12th-best tailback in the nation.

Colleges like Boston College, Florida, Maryland, N.C. State, Penn State, and Virginia wanted him. He received scholarship offers from Penn State, Maryland, and Virginia. Morgan decided to commit to the University of Maryland. In 2005, Morgan did not meet the academic requirements for Maryland. So, he attended a special preparatory school. This was the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. While there, he ran for 151 yards and scored one touchdown.

Morgan Green's College Football Career

At the University of Maryland, Morgan did not play in the 2006 season. This is called a redshirt year.

Challenges and Injuries

Before the 2007 season, Morgan did very well in practice. He was expected to play a big role because two starting running backs were injured. He played in the first game against Villanova. But he hurt his hamstring and could not play for the rest of the season.

In 2008, Morgan had a problem with his quadriceps muscle during training camp. This injury bothered him all season. He became the third-ranked rusher on the team. The main starter was Da'Rel Scott, and Davin Meggett was the reserve. Morgan still played in ten games. He ran for 114 yards and scored three touchdowns. Against Eastern Michigan, Morgan scored two touchdowns. In the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl game against Nevada, he ran for 72 yards. He had a long run of 53 yards and scored one touchdown.

Looking Ahead and Team Changes

During spring training in 2009, Morgan talked about his past injuries. He said, "If I make it through camp, I'll be the happiest guy ever because then I'll know I'll have a good season." The team's starting quarterback, Chris Turner, believed in Morgan. He said Morgan could be a "huge key" for their offense. He noted that Morgan was a "big, explosive, and fast back."

In the spring of 2010, Morgan spoke with head coach Ralph Friedgen. They discussed Morgan's future with the team. Morgan decided to finish his degree at Maryland. He then planned to transfer to Towson University to continue playing football. However, Morgan did not join the Towson football team for the 2010 season.