FSU's Jordan Morgan Receives NFL Rookie Tryout With New York Giants
Click Here For Official Mini-Camp Roster:
http://www.giants.com/team/minicamp-roster.html
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program had representation in the National Football League (NFL) this past weekend as former Bulldog standout Jordan Morgan (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) received an official invitation and took part in a rookie mini-camp on a free agent tryout with the New York Giants.
The 6-4 defensive end was among 63 players who took part in the rookie camp held at the Giants' Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants held two practices on Friday along with two on Saturday, giving Morgan his first opportunity to showcase his skills at the NFL level and in front of current Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin and his staff.
The camp included the Giants' 2013 rookie draft class along with signed undrafted rookie free agents, rookie free agent tryouts and veteran free agent tryouts.
Morgan helped lead the Bulldogs to a 7-4 overall record during the 2012 campaign under first-year head coach Tony Annese, which marked only the second time in the past decade the Bulldogs had won seven or more games in a season.
In 2012, Morgan led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in sacks with 10.5 total for -46 yards on the season. He also ranked second in tackles for loss with 14.0 (-52 yards). Morgan had two forced fumbles, two hurries, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery while making 65 total stops, including 35 solo efforts.
The Bulldog standout wrapped up his career as the school-record holder in blocked kicks and finished third in total sacks while also earning all-region first team and all-GLIAC kudos. Morgan was also recognized as the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2012.
A product of Chicago's Mt. Carmel high school, Morgan was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs along the defensive line and a four-time all-conference honoree. He earned All-GLIAC Second Team recognition for the Bulldogs in both 2010 and 2011 after starting 10 contests and attaining league honorable mention laurels as a redshirt freshman in 2009.
Morgan joins a long list of former Bulldog players who have receieved at least a shot in the National Football League.
The select group of ex-Bulldogs who have signed a contract or played in the NFL consists of running back Dave Gagnon (1974-Chicago Bears), outside linebacker Monty Brown (1997-New York Jets), defensive tackle Ed Philion (1994-Buffalo Bills), defensive end Dave Zuiderveen (2001-Atlanta Falcons), flanker Clarence Coleman (2002-Buffalo Bills), tackle Matt McCoy (2004-Detroit Lions), wide receiver Carlton Brewster (2006-Cleveland Browns), defensive tackle Jake Visser (2009-Houston Texans) and cornerback Angelo Williams (2010-Minnesota Vikings).
Two other former Ferris State players, offensive guard Bill Bourdlais and safety Patrick Wells, received tryout invitations from the Cleveland Browns in 2008 and participated in the team's rookie mini-camp, but did not ink a deal. Several others have also had NFL tryouts including wide receiver Andre Johnson (1989), quarterback Dave DenBraber (1987) and receiver/returner Fred Kirkland (1981).
Behind Morgan and a strong senior class, FSU's 2012 wins included the program's first victory over rival Grand Valley State since 1999, the Bulldogs' first triumph over Michigan Tech in 10 years and a memorable come-from-behind road win against defending NCAA Division II National Runner-Up Wayne State. Ferris State has followed up that success by recently inking perhaps the nation's number one recruiting class at the Division II level.