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MARSHALL SPORTS
Morris makes his mark at Combine
HUNTINGTON -- It was all Bernard Morris could have anticipated.
Bottom line, Marshall University's former quarterback exited the NFL Combine in higher standing than a week ago. A long road remains between now and the April 26-27 NFL Draft, but Morris continues to elevate his status among league decision-makers.
"It was a great opportunity to interact with the scouts and coaches," said Morris' agent, Andy Simms. "He was healthy. He made all of the throws and his arm didn't get tired. It was all positive.
"To what extent it was positive we won't know for a while."
Specifically, Morris impressed with his 40-yard dash times and throwing drills during the extensive weekend tryout in Indianapolis. Coaches and scouts from each of the NFL's 32 franchises were in attendance; Morris was one of 19 quarterbacks invited.
Morris separated from his peers with 40 times ranging between 4.67 and 4.69 seconds.
"He was a little disappointed, but that's a good time for quarterbacks," Simms said.
Officially sized up at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, Morris was one of just two quarterbacks to participate in the voluntary bench press session. He outperformed Penn State's Anthony Morelli, pressing 225 pounds 18 times.
Merely opting to participate likely earned points with evaluators.
"Teams love the fact you do it because it is optional," Simms said. "They like that attitude."
Considered an NFL Draft longshot at best at the beginning of the 2007 season, Morris gradually has worked into the conversation. Following a 3,000-plus yards passing season as a senior, Morris participated in the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game.
His NFL Combine role essentially was to serve as a "camp arm" delivering accurate throws during wide receiver drills. By volunteering for the bench press and posting impressive sprint times, Morris made full use of his spotlight weekend.
Following the intense, across-the-board scrutiny that is the NFL Combine, Morris is exhaling for a few days, spending time with family in Orlando, Fla.. Focus then shifts to Marshall's Pro Day on March 21, when scouts will evaluate Thundering Herd prospects.
"The process is up to the teams at this point," Simms said. "He'll get a chance to talk with some more people and there will be some teams that want to do one-on-one, individual workouts with him between that day (March 21) and the draft."
Regardless of his future audition performances, draft weekend will remain an unknown. Former Thundering Herd wideout Darius Watts was considered physically fragile but Denver made the speedy playmaker a second-round selection; expectations were high toward Marshall teammates Nate McPeek and Josh Davis, but neither was drafted.
"I would caution anyone because you really don't know what's going to happen with the draft," Simms said. "We don't know if he could go in the (early) rounds or if he's still in the late rounds.
"But there's no question that the Combine was a success."
