The transition from basketball to football is complete for Corey Morris.
Morris, who spent the past four seasons as a rugged center on the Winston-Salem State basketball team, is now a rugged offensive lineman for the unbeaten and high-powered WSSU football team.
He made his first start Saturday, a result of injuries elsewhere, and helped WSSU roll up 559 yards of offense and defeat Fayetteville State, 56-20. The Rams improved to 4-0 and pushed their season points total to 200.
Morris, 6-foot-10 and 280 pounds, has come a long way since spring football after following in the footsteps of his twin brother, Colby, a 6-3 defensive lineman who graduated after last season.
"I wake up every morning and put on the pads and go hard," Corey Morris said. "It's a lot different than just putting on gym shoes and going to play basketball. It used to be I would just put on a basketball uniform and run up and down the court, so this is much different."
Morris played only basketball in high school, and his mother, Shirley, said he had not played football since the eighth grade. Despite the eight-year break, Morris wasn't intimidated.
"It was always basketball for him," Shirley Morris said. "I was a little skeptical when he said I think I'm going to go out for football. But he stuck to it and is doing well, so we're all very proud of him. And his brother Colby can't stop talking about it."
Coach Connell Maynor first gave Morris a shot at tight end in the spring, but that didn't work out. The Rams also had Michael Byrd, a graduate student who had played tight end at East Carolina, and he eventually won the starting job.
Maynor plugged in Morris on the interior line, and Morris has helped out and has added depth — a luxury on the line for many Division II programs.
"I wouldn't say my hands were that bad," Morris said of his short time at tight end. "Maybe if I had more time at tight end it could have worked, but I'm happy being a part of the line."
Morris is finishing the requirements for his undergraduate degree this semester and says he's thinking about going to graduate school.
When the Morris twins came to WSSU from Elizabeth City's Northeastern High, Colby was focused on football and Corey on basketball. Each tried to attend the other's games as much as possible, and Colby — who now lives and works in Charlotte — has tried to attend all of this season's football games.
When Colby decided to graduate instead of return for a final year of eligibility, Corey wasn't sure he wanted to play football. But he went out for spring practice, loved the atmosphere and was hooked.
An added bonus for Morris is that he can now eat as much as he wants. During his days playing basketball, he had to lose weight to be more of a factor on the court.
"I get to eat more, and you know how I like to eat," he said with a laugh.
Morris missed out on winning a CIAA title in basketball but hopes to be part of a football championship.
"This is different because there's more running, more hitting, and you have to think more in football," Morris said. "You have to be on top of everything out there. You have to know the plays, know the defense they are in, but I'm loving it out there."
Morris also says that with his eligibility exhausted in basketball, he's glad he still has the chance to compete at a high level in a different sport.
"I'm working hard out there," he said. "Every game I'm getting more and more playing time…. I just have to go in there and do what I can to help the team out."
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