Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE D.J. MORGAN SAFETY 6-2 • 190 ST. JOHN BOSCO H.S. NORWALK, CALIF. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 23 47 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 34 53 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 45 60 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 58 100 MEASURABLES • Indicated he has not been formally tested in any local or national camps, but was clocked at 4.69 in the 40-yard dash last June during summer workouts. STATISTICS • As a senior for a 13-1 team, credited with 49 tackles, four stops for loss, two interceptions and one pass defended. • Recorded 112 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception as a junior for 12-2 team. • Made starting lineup during playoffs in sopho- more season after an injury to the starting safety and was part of 16-0 team that, led by five-star quarterback Josh Rosen (now at UCLA), captured the state title. HONORS • Named second-team All-Trinity League as both a junior and senior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Attend the Rivals Las Vegas Camp last Febru- ary, and the summer prior was at the Nike Re- gional in Los Angeles. RECRUITMENT • Originally committed to Arizona State on May 20, 2015 — but opened up his recruitment on July 11, 2015, before officially announcing the decision to attend Notre Dame on Sept. 27, 2015. • Also received offers from California, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska and Northwestern. • His lone official visit was to Notre Dame for the season opener versus Texas on Sept. 5, 2015. • Primarily recruited by wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock, with defensive backs coach Todd Lyght also involved. NOTABLE • Born April 8, 1998. • Grandmother is from South Bend, Ind., and he has a couple of great uncles residing in the area. • Second cousin of three-time Notre Dame bas- ketball All-American Skylar Diggins (2009-13). • Has aspirations to become a homicide detec- tive, inspired in part by losing a family member in a cold case. 2016 PROJECTION • Expected to receive his initial look at strong safety, where the Irish need to replace the gradu- ating Elijah Shumate. THEY SAID IT • Head coach Brian Kelly: "The versatility that D.J. offers us coaches is an extremely promising characteristic and I am eager to watch the dif- ferent ways that he will contribute to us over the next few years." • Defensive backs coach Todd Lyght: "D.J. is going to start out at strong safety and be a big nickel, and we'll see what his blitzing ability is like. Really physical. He brings a lunch-pail work ethic. "His fundamentals are sound. He's going to be able to play special teams right away." • BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Morgan does his best work closer to the line of scrimmage. He shows good range and flashes smooth athletic skills, staying light on his feet and showing good change of direction ability. "His ability to make plays on the football is en- hanced by his instincts and intelligence."