RECRUITING: Desert Pines’ Isaiah Morris to continue football career at UNR

By DAVID SCHOEN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Desert Pines Isaiah Morris (7) runs down field against the Cheyenne defense during their foo ... — Desert Pines Isaiah Morris (7) runs down field against the Cheyenne defense during their football game played at Desert Pines field in Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Desert Pines defeated Cheyenne 31-14. Martin S. Fuentes/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines High School’s Isaiah Morris (7) runs the ball upfield to score a touchdown during a football game against Centennial high School at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. Jason Ogulnik/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris at Desert Pines High School on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morris is set to advance to college football National Signing Day. Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @Erik_Verduzco

Desert Pines senior Isaiah Morris (7) runs the ball down the field as Del Sol sophomore Ati Poni (44) runs after him during the football Class 3A playoff game at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Donavon Lockett/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris (7) runs the ball against Moapa Valley in their state quarterfinal football game at Desert Pines High School on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Desert Pines won 28-7. Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @Erik_Verduzco

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris takes the handoff from quarterback Tyler Williamson (19)against Spring Creek in the second half of the NIAA Class 3A State championship game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Desert Pines won 39-6. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris rushes for a first down against Spring Creek in the second half of the NIAA Class 3A State championship game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Desert Pines won 39-6. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris rushes for a first down against Spring Creek in the first half of the NIAA Class 3A State championship game at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Desert Pines won 39-6. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines Isaiah Morris (7) runs the ball against South Tahoe during their 3A state semifinal football game played at the Desert Pines football field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Desert Pines defeated South Tahoe 56-7. Martin S. Fuentes/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines Isaiah Morris (7) runs the ball in for a touch down against South Tahoe during their 3A state semifinal football game played at the Desert Pines football field in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Desert Pines defeated South Tahoe 56-7. Martin S. Fuentes/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines Isaiah Morris (7) runs down field against the Cheyenne defense during their football game played at Desert Pines field in Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Desert Pines defeated Cheyenne 31-14. Martin S. Fuentes/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines senior Isaiah Morris (7) moves the ball up field during a football matchup against the Pahrump Valley Trojans at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Donavon Lockett/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Pahrump Valley senior Drew Walker (22) reaches out for Desert Pines senior Isaiah Morris (7) as he attempts to stop him from moving up field during a varsity football matchup at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Donavon Lockett/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Desert Pines running back Isaiah Morris, who helped the Jaguars to the Class 3A state title as a senior, made an oral commitment to UNR on Friday.

Morris made the announcement in a statement posted on his Twitter account. According to Desert Pines football coach Tico Rodriguez, Morris will be a preferred walk-on for the Wolf Pack.

“It has been a long recruiting process for myself. I kept faith and believing that God’s plan will all work out for me,” Morris wrote. “With that being said, I wold like to announce that I will be furthering my education at University of Nevada-Reno and continuing my football career by joining the Wolfpack (sic) family.”

ALL GLORY TO GOD #NevadaGrit #WolfpackFamily #SpeedyMorris pic.twitter.com/pvOBCB6byB

— Isaiah Speedy Morris (@Speedy_Morris) February 24, 2017

Morris, who endured a childhood filled with personal tragedy, ran for 1,816 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior to earn first-team all-state honors. In his three-year varsity career, the 5-foot-8-inch, 160-pound speedster rushed for more than 4,700 yards and 60 touchdowns.

Morris originally committed to UNLV last spring but decommitted from the Rebels in the summer. Morris had scholarship offers from Eastern Washington and UNR before both schools endured coaching changes after the season and also was recruited by Adams State (Colorado) and Southern Utah.

Morris is expected to play slot receiver for UNR.

“Isaiah is a tough kid and it seems nothing comes easy for him,” Rodriguez said. “But he answers every challenge. I’m excited to see what he does there.”