Behren Morton Finally Near Full Strength Ahead of CFP Quarterfinal Showdown
Texas Tech fans, take a deep breath - your quarterback is finally close to 100%.
After a grueling stretch of the season spent battling through injuries, Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton enters Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal healthier than he’s been since early fall. The fifth-year senior has been through the wringer, playing through a hyperextended knee suffered in the opener and a hairline fracture in his right fibula that sidelined him for key games. But now, with nearly a month between the Big 12 Championship and the playoff, Morton says his body finally had time to reset.
“It’s better for sure,” Morton told reporters on Sunday. “It’s been a focus. We’ve had time off to work on things like that, so I think it’s been good.”
That’s welcome news for a Texas Tech team looking to make noise in the College Football Playoff. Morton’s injury occurred back on October 11, when he was sacked during a game against Kansas.
The fracture forced him into a walking boot for much of the fall, and he missed time against Arizona State and Oklahoma State. A concussion later in the season at Utah also kept him off the field.
Through it all, the Red Raiders had to get creative with his workload - limiting him in practice, adjusting his weekly schedule, and leaning on walkthroughs more than full-speed reps.
Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich explained that the injury forced Morton to make mechanical tweaks and learn how to play within new physical boundaries.
“When you have injuries, you got to kind of learn to play with it and know where your limitations are and what you’re able to do,” Leftwich said.
Despite the setbacks, Morton’s numbers this season speak volumes. He completed 67 percent of his passes, threw for 2,643 yards, and posted a 22-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Those are strong numbers for any quarterback - let alone one playing through a broken fibula and knee trouble.
And while Morton was never known for being a dual-threat quarterback, his mobility has understandably taken a hit. But that hasn’t stopped him from being effective. Leftwich and the staff have built the offense around his strengths, and Morton has shown he can still deliver from the pocket.
Now, with the boot finally off for extended stretches and his legs feeling the best they have since that Kansas game, Morton is set to start Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup against Oregon. He’s cleared, confident, and, most importantly, healthy enough to lead this team on college football’s biggest stage.
For Texas Tech, that’s about as good a scenario as they could’ve hoped for heading into the postseason.