CAMP SERIES: VALENCIA HIGH
Prep football: Valencia’s Ryan Morrison transitions into taking over starting quarterback position
In casual conversation, Ryan Morrison is a soft-spoken person. But on the field, his play speaks volumes.
After being named Valencia’s starting quarterback over the summer, Morrison has only turned the volume up and will likely continue to do so.
“He’s had a great summer,” said coach Larry Muir. “His offseason has been awesome. He’s really worked hard and been very detailed and really changes some of his throwing mechanics and he’s been really receptive to coaching.”
Morrison was in a quarterback battle with fellow senior Ethan Aguillon, but after Aguillon unexpectedly left the program, Morrison assumed the starting role.
It was in late June after a 7-on-7 tournament at Bonita that Morrison really began to get into the groove of things. The breakthrough was a natural one, almost effortless, he said.
“I don’t really know if I tried to do any one thing,” Morrison said. “I just kind of went out and threw and tried to make good decisions and good throws.”
Valencia ran a variety of plays at the end of practice on Tuesday evening and Morrison moved fluidly through nearly all of them, seldom flinching as he launched 70yard throws as well as tossed 10-yard passes.
His 6-foot-4 frame is a benefit to the pocket passer, who has a big arm, but says he is working on his capabilities as a runner.
He also has a quality selection of receivers to throw to, most notably Mitchell Torres and Hunter Koch. Morrison said he feeds off of their desire to improve to make
himself better as a quarterback.
“I love it because it makes my job a little bit easier,” Morrison said. “I also feel more pressure because Hunter, for example, works really hard. He runs really good routes, so he gets himself open and I feel pressure to get him the ball and like, make it a perfect ball because he ran a perfect route for me.”
Morrison comes from a football family. His dad played quarterback at Canyon High School shortly before Harry Welch took over as head coach and his family is filled with die-hard Notre Dame football fans.
“He signed me up (for football) since I was little,” Morrison said. “He always pushed me, he played quarterback so that’s kind of why I’m a quarterback. He’s taught me everything that he knew as a quarterback and he’s helped me like that.”
Morrison is expected to come into his own even more when Valencia begins its season against St. Francis on Aug. 22.