Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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but I realized that there's something real good happening there, and I know he's a big reason why." The chance to play with Smith, a 247Sports Freshman All-America pick at outside linebacker, was one of the reasons why Morgan eventually chose Notre Dame. Lining up with a fellow blue-chipper joined the list of the typi- cal attractions that bring a top recruit to South Bend. Morgan said early playing time, education and playing close to his family were all important in picking the Irish. "There is so much to like at Notre Dame, and I really appreciate it more than I did when I was younger," Mor- gan disclosed. "It's a great academic school, and my parents and I really like that. There's a great game atmo- sphere there, and that really grabbed my attention this season on my visits. "I was up there for a few games and the fans were really behind the team at all times. Just playing with and around the guys up there was probably the last deciding factor for me. Playing for Coach Kelly and the other defensive coaches and then playing with Jaylon [Smith] and the other great defensive players is big for me. We've got a lot of talent up there." Morgan admits that Smith was very influential to him during the last few months of his recruitment. "The more I got into the process, I started talking to Jaylon and we got real close," he said. "I would come up for visits and he would just chill with me, talk to me about Notre Dame and Morgan helped Crete-Monee High School in Crete, Ill., to a 40-2 record in his three seasons as a starter, highlighted by winning the 6A state championship during his junior season. PHOTO COURTESY TIMES OF NORTHWEST INDIANA