Ty Morris didn’t need every piece of Rutgers’ defensive puzzle in place before he bought in. He committed to the Scarlet Knights before Travis Johansen was hired as defensive coordinator, before the rest of the defensive staff was assembled, and before the full picture of a rebuilt unit came into focus. Still, the linebacker saw enough in Greg Schiano’s program to make the jump, and now he’s talking like someone who believes the pieces can fit.
Rutgers has spent the offseason overhauling its defense, bringing in a new coordinator, multiple new position coaches and 10 transfers on that side of the ball. Morris is one of them, arriving after an all-conference season at Rice and carrying a reputation as a productive, physical presence in the middle of the field. Last year, he piled up 88 tackles and 2.5 sacks in Conference USA, and Rutgers is counting on that production to translate as it moves him into the Big Ten.
There’s no mystery about the challenge ahead. Rutgers finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in almost every major defensive category last season, so a turnaround would require more than optimism. Morris says the group is putting in the kind of work that can move it forward.
"Yes - but potential is a dangerous word," Morris said. "But I love the way we're coming out here working every day through the film, the weight room - I just love how we are doing. We are taking a huge step forward."
That kind of confidence fits what Rutgers hoped it was getting. Morris describes himself as a downhill, disruptive linebacker who wants to bring energy and leadership to the defense.
"I bring violence. I'm a field general," Morris said.
"I finish and swarm to the ball. I'm an exciting player, and I bring great leadership."
"I've been pretty comfortable, especially coming from Rice to here. I feel like football is football. I put my head down, keep working, and I just trust my training."
The transfer also said the culture was a major reason he committed when he did. With only one year of eligibility left, he wanted a stable program that matched what he was looking for.
"I would definitely say the culture, the culture aspect, because that was something I was really looking for, looking forward to coming from my last year," Morris said.
"I had one year of eligibility left, so that was one thing that I really wanted. I wanted a good, set-in stone program with a good cultural fit."
Now that Johansen is in place, Morris likes what he sees from the new defensive leader, who spent last season as head coach at South Dakota and built a reputation for toughness and work ethic. He said the coach’s approach lines up well with linebacker coach Elijah Hodge, and both have helped set the tone for the room.
"I mean, he's an awesome leader," Morris said of Johansen.
"He shows us the way - how he wants things to be done. I mean, he just shows great (and) positive things - how things have worked for him in the past. It's just awesome."
"I love Coach Hodge. He's like a father figure to all of us.
He treats all of us with the same intensity. I love the intensity that he brings to the type of culture he brings to our backroom (linebackers room) and the standard that he brings."
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