Morgan threw for a career-high 151 yards

GREENSBORO, October 8, 2007 – North Carolina A&T senior wide receiver said it was the best pass he has ever had thrown to him. How fitting for a pass that resulted in the longest play from scrimmage in school history. And how fitting for the passer – redshirt freshman quarterback Shelton Morgan – who used the perfectly thrown pass to earn MEAC Rookie of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 1-7.

Morgan’s honor marks the second year in a row an Aggies freshman quarterback has earned Rookie of the Week honors after Wayne Campbell threw for a freshman record 219 yards against Norfolk State on Sept. 30, 2006. Morgan’s 96-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell will put him and Caldwell in the record books for the longest play from scrimmage in school history.

The previous mark was a 91-yard pass from Red Jackson to Athie Garrison on Nov. 24, 1949 against N.C. Central. The Morgan to Caldwell touchdown on Saturday gave the Aggies a 17-13 with 14:10 remaining in the game.

“It was great play call by (assistant head coach Kenny Ray),’’ said N.C. A&T coach Lee Fobbs. “But the best thing about it was it was well executed. Shelton put the ball where it needed to be and Mike just ran right under it and took into the end zone.”

“I never had to break my stride,’’ said Caldwell about Morgan’s pass. “It’s something you dream about, but everything has to be done perfectly for something like that to work. I knew when I was running under it, that his pass was perfect.”

Morgan (6-1, 200, Elizabeth City, NC), who made his third start of the season, was 5-for-11 Saturday for 151 yards and a touchdown in the 22-17 loss to Morgan State at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore. In four games played, Morgan has thrown for 413 yards, four touchdowns and has completed 30 passes. Morgan made his first career appearance at quarterback against Prairie View A&M on Sept. 8.

After just six pass attempts, he already had his first career touchdown, a 32-yard throw-and-catch to Giorgio Lowrance. He made his first career start against Hampton on Sept. 15 when he took over for the injured Herb Miller. Along with Miller, Morgan nearly led the Aggies to victory over N.C. Central on Sept. 22 when the two quarterbacks (Morgan had 127 yards passing) combined for 248 yards passing. Morgan has also been used at receiver this season, catching one pass for 35 yards.

“Shelton is a young man we had a lot of confidence in coming out of camp,’’ said Fobbs. “We knew coming into the season, we were going to have to find someway to get him involved in the offense whether it be at receiver or quarterback. He has that kind of athleticism.”