Texas Tech football supporters are ready for the Behren Morton era to begin this season. Sure, Morton made eight starts last year, but this will be the first time he has spent the whole summer knowing that he is the undisputed starter. Furthermore, we expect to see him stay healthy for a complete season in 2024.
We now know that Morton’s popularity extends beyond Red Raider fans. This is because he has been named to the preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
According to the award’s website, “The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the outstanding upperclassman quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, epitomizes everything wonderful about college sports. The award recognizes on-field performance, but it extends beyond completion % and touchdown strikes. The award recognizes character, citizenship, integrity, and people who respect the game.”
Morton is one of ten Big 12 quarterbacks on the preseason watch list. That demonstrates the conference’s depth at that position.
Morton will attempt to build on a hard 2023 season. After suffering a sprained throwing shoulder in the fourth game of the season, he did not make a single start when fully healthy.
He threw for 1,757 yards and 15 touchdowns, completing 62.1% of his throws. These figures are unimpressive at best, but keep in mind that Morton was held out of practice most weeks to heal his shoulder.
Golden Arm Award Watch List -> Behren Morton 💪@BehrenMorton | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/yluGBl20Vu
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) August 14, 2024
As a result, he must have struggled to create any kind of sync with his receivers. Missing that much practice had to limit his capacity to feel entirely comfortable executing the entire game plan.
Morton has the potential to be a breakout player at the national level this season. With a fresh and improved mix of skill players, he should be able to post career-high statistics if he stays healthy.
Of course, Morton’s health has been a concern. In fact, we have not seen him play an entire game at full strength. In addition to his injury from last year, he sustained a high ankle sprain in his first career start in 2022, which limited his mobility for the rest of the season and cost him the starting job.
Morton possesses the necessary talent to compete at the highest level of the game. However, he must now demonstrate that on Saturdays this year. Hopefully, he will escape the nagging injuries that have hindered him so far. If he does, he may be one of the finest quarterbacks in the country and a contender for the Golden Arm Award.
Leave a Reply