Steve Sarkisian has a long-standing connection with MJ Morris, the new quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. Their relationship dates back to 2019, when Sarkisian was the offensive coordinator at Alabama.
The offer came after Morris showcased his skills at a camp hosted by Alabama. At the time, he was just a rising sophomore in high school, still a few years away from graduation in the 2022 class. During his sophomore year at Carrollton High School, Morris accumulated a remarkable 2,565 yards of total offense and threw for 18 touchdowns.
After transferring to Atlanta Pace Academy for one season, he returned to Carrollton for his senior year, where his performance soared. Morris ended his high school career with 3,089 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, in addition to 602 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Although he was ranked as the No. 24 quarterback in his class, Morris chose to commit to the NC State Wolfpack instead of Alabama as Sarkisian had moved on to become the head coach at Texas.
During his time at NC State, Morris played in nine games, throwing for 1,367 yards and 14 touchdowns. In December 2023, he entered the transfer portal and later joined the Maryland Terrapins, where he threw for 350 yards and five touchdowns in seven games.
Morris then transferred to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, but his numbers there were not as impressive, totaling only 304 passing yards and one touchdown.
Now in his final year of eligibility, Morris finds himself back in a familiar situation, reuniting with one of the first coaches to recognize his potential. However, he faces stiff competition for the backup role behind starting quarterback Arch Manning. With the departure of last year”s second-string quarterback, Matthew Caldwell, the Longhorns have brought in a notable four-star recruit, KJ Lacey Jr., as well as Dia Bell, who is regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Despite the presence of these two blue-chip prospects, Morris holds a significant advantage in experience, having thrown 320 passes at the college level compared to the combined total of Lacey and Bell. While Manning is expected to take the starting role next season, Morris could very well be the player to step in if needed.
Carter Long, a sophomore studying Journalism and Sports Media at the University of Texas at Austin, contributes as a general sports reporter for the Daily Texan, focusing on baseball. Originally from Houston, he remains a staunch supporter of all Houston sports.
