Morrison hungry for more reps

Champs are loaded on defence

Adam Morrison’s first starting assignment last season came in the Prairie Football Conference final as the Saskatoon Hilltops dominated the Calgary Colts 32-3.

Filling in for Derrick Sorenson at defensive end, Morrison played a pivotal part in the victory as he knocked down a pass from Colts quarterback Clayton Masikewich, hurried him to force an interception and then picked off a pass himself before scampering 40 yards to the end zone.

“I’m just hoping to build off that — the confidence from that (game) that I got,” said the 20-year-old. “The off-season training just really went well. Hopefully I’ll just keep rolling and moving up the ladder.”

There’s only one problem. Despite Morrison’s stellar debut performance, the team’s defensive front four remains intact as Sorenson, Clayton Sarich, Donovan Dale and Brett Pisio — a two-time PFC all-star — are all returnees.

Simply put, each of the ladder’s rungs are full with talent from a second consecutive Canadian Bowlwinning team.

But even though Morrison may have to continue to bide his time before earning some starting reps, the Saskatoon native insists he doesn’t find the situation frustrating.

“It’s not,” said the thirdyear Hilltop. “It really is rewarding to play on a championship team.

“I was recruited by a couple of teams in high school (Holy Cross), but a feel I made the right decision the way the past two years have gone.”

Thanks to largely to his PFC final stats, Morrison finished last season with eight tackles, a quarterback sack and that crucial inception. He spent the off-season doing plenty of leg-based weight training to improve his speed and clocked a time of 5.03 seconds in the 40-yard dash on the opening day of training camp Monday.

Throw in the added quickness to some strong play in the second half of 2011 and Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant doesn’t expect the 6-foot-7, 240-pound defender will see too much time on the sideline this season.

“We are absolutely loaded there,” said Sargeant of his defensive line. “They’re all going to play. We’re going to rotate them all in.

“We’re going to be the freshest front four in Canada and we’ll be the best front four in Canada. We’ve got so many healthy options, so many good options. They all deserve to play.”

Morrison will be vying for more playing time as part of an impressive front seven that Sargeant calls the “heart beat” of the team.

Only all-star Richard Zacharias graduated at weakside linebacker, leaving Justin Filteau to fill the void.

“I talked to the coaches in the off-season and they feel I’m ready,” said Filteau, who, like Morrison, is entering his third season with the club. “That’s a nice thing to have.

“To be able to talk to all the coaches and have them tell you straight up that you have what it takes to be a starter, it gives you confidence.”

While Morrison doesn’t have that luxury quite yet, he remains undeterred. But whether he’s an injury replacement or an in-game substitution, Morrison believes he’ll play an important role on the team in one way or another.

“We’re always pushing each other,” he said. “There’s competition and spots so the next guy right behind you is going to be pushing you.

“That’s what wins you national championships, working as a unit.”