"DENTON, Texas -- North Texas coach Eric Morris -- the 40-year-old Air Raid virtuoso who launched Baker Mayfield, unleashed Patrick Mahomes and found Cam Ward -- likes a process. It's why, even days before a Nov. 1 visit from Navy, Morris is talking about cotton farms in northeast Arkansas. Specifically, his own. They're a long-term investment. Morris recently bought his third. "When I retire, I'm going to farm cotton," he tells ESPN. "Give me a good process, and I'll work at it. Plus, cotton won't talk back to me -- I won't have to deal with any bulls---.""
"But, for the moment, Morris is still devoted to the process of a modern, up-tempo offense that has sprouted an improbable line of diamond-in-the-rough quarterbacks since 2013, propelling a swift coaching rise for the ex-Texas Tech slot receiver whom Mike Leach affectionately called "The Elf." Former Morris protégés accounted for 10% of the NFL's starting quarterbacks this past weekend. Mayfield walked on at Texas Tech; Ward was a zero-star recruit when he signed at Incarnate Word in 2020. Both turned into No. 1 draft picks. Mahomes spent three years with Morris in Lubbock, then became ... Patrick Mahomes."
Eric Morris is a 40-year-old coach known for a disciplined, adaptable Air Raid offense that emphasizes process and quarterback development. He has a track record of finding and refining overlooked signal-callers, turning walk-ons and low-rated recruits into top college and NFL starters. Former protégés include Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes and Cam Ward, and recent alumni accounted for 10% of NFL starters during one weekend. Morris rose from a Texas Tech slot receiver to prominent playcaller and head coach, and he invests in cotton farms with plans to farm after retirement.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]