Former FAU running back Alfred Morris is a big reason the Owls are landing players from his old high school, Pensacola-Pine Forest. (Owl Access File Photo)
Fred Zone
Former FAU running back Alfred Moris is still paying dividends for the Owls after they picked up verbal commitments from two players from Morris' high school, Pensacola-Pine Forest. And it's not just a coincidence.
Originally published on
10/7/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
It was interesting enough that FAU has received verbal commitments from two players from the same high school.
When those two prospects play on the same defensive line, it's even more of an interesting angle.
But when I tracked down Pensacola-Pine Forest defensive end Demarcus Glover, who joined his teammate defensive tackle JonDarius Gardner by committing to FAU last week, I also wanted to know about if they knew much about Pine Forest alum Alfred Morris, who was drafted out of FAU by the Redskins and is having a breakthrough rookie season.
I planned to ask about Morris just before hanging up (not knowing if Glover had even heard of Morris, who graduated high school in 2007 and has been gone a few years.)
Instead, it was Glover who brought up Morris in the first 30 seconds of my conversation with him about why he chose FAU.
“Well, Alfred Morris is from Pine Forest and I was impressed with the success that he had down there,” Glover said.
Of course, Morris isn't the only reason Glover committed to the Owls. Glover said he was comfortable with FAU offensive line coach Luke Meadows, who recruits the panhandle for the Owls, and likes FAU's academic programs.
But it also seems that Morris is still paying dividends for FAU even after playing his final game for the Owls last season.
“We knew about that program because of Alfred,” Glover said. “We grew up around Pine Forest football. ...He was so humble and quiet, but he was a stud as a player.”
And there could be more from Pine Forest on the way. Glover said he and Gardner are trying to convince some more of their teammates to commit to FAU with five players from Pine Forest planning to make an official visit together.
“It's a big move to come down there and it could help if we just stay together,” Glover said.
Judging by how FAU's last player from Pine Forest worked out, that may not be such a bad thing.