Morgan begins Viking training Friday
CHRISTI BERTELSON/HIGHLALND LAKES NEWSPAPERS
Gaynelle Sutherland has a special place in her heart for David Morgan and could not let him leave for Minnesota Viking training camp without saying goodbye one last time.
She watched Morgan grow up and rooted for him with the Marble Falls Mustangs and the UT San Antonio Roadrunners. Friday, July 23, she said she would be watching for him now on a new team.
MARK GOODSON/THE HIGHLANDER SPORTS EDITOR
David Morgan, Marble Falls High School’s first player drafted in the National Football League, signed autographs July 23, a farewell before reporting Minnesota State University in Mankato for Minnesota Vikings training camp that begins Friday, July 29.
Fans went to Cecil Atkission’s car dealership in Burnet for a chance to say goodbye and collect a momento from the former Marble Falls Mustang.
The 6-4, 262-pound Morgan goes into the camp looking to make the 53-man roster. Morgan is vying for a spot at tight end or fullback.
“It’s gone real well,’’ Morgan said of the OTA and mini-camps for the Vikings . “There is a lot of talent on the team.’’
At his position, the Vikings lead candidates are Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame, Mycole Pruitt from Southern Illinois, Brian Leonhardt from Bemidje State and Moritz Bohringer from Germany.
Morgan said he’s prepared to do the work necessary to make the roster with the NFL North team. The Vikings are considered to have their best team talent wise since they ran off 12 victories in 2009.
The Vikings traded up to take Morgan with the 13th pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Morgan was the 188th player picked in the three-day draft.
Morgan played his college career at UTSA after graduating from Marble Falls in 2011.
UTSA has only had a football program for five years, and only been a full-fledged member of the FBS for two years.
Morgan was named a second-team All-American and second-team All-Conference USA selection 2015, finishing among the leading tight ends in the country with 45 receptions for 566 yards and five scores.
He earned honorable mention All-Conference USA recognition as a junior, nabbing 20 passes for 255 yards and a score while missing more time with another injury.
The Marble Falls native set a then-school mark with nine catches in the season opener at then-No. 22 Arizona (Sept. 3) and matched that total five games later against Louisiana Tech (Oct. 10). His 109 yards against the Wildcats was UTSA’s first 100-yard receiving performance in three seasons and his two touchdown grabs against the Bulldogs matched the program’s single-game record.
Minnesota is on the road for its first two preseason games. The Vikings are at the Bengals on Aug. 12 and at the Seahawks on Aug. 18. the first home preseason game is Aug. 28 against the Chargers. On Sept. 1 they faee the Rams at Minnesota. The regular season opener is Sept. 11 at the Titans.
The Vikings play both the Cowboys and Texans this season in the regular season. They have an Oct. 9 date with the Texans and a Dec. 1 meeting with the Cowboys. Both games are in Minnesota.
