Patrick McMorris takes part in the San Diego State University Warrior Walk before last Saturday’s game against Wyoming at SDCCU Stadium. The Aztecs beat the Cowboys 26-22. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, OC Sports Zone)
Football is a game of anticipation and visualizing the attack.
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Former Santa Ana High School running back Patrick McMorris understands that well, as his way of anticipating defenses made him one of the top rushers in Orange County in 2018 and earned him several honors. He rushed for 1,801 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Saints to the CIF Division 8 semifinals.
This season, he is learning how to visualize the attack on the opposite side of the ball as he is adjusting to playing safety at San Diego State University on one of the most competitive defenses in Division I NCAA football.
McMorris currently ranks second in the Aztecs’ depth chart, only behind junior safety Tariq Thompson, arguably one of the most physical defenders in the Mountain West Conference.
SDSU’s secondary and special team’s coach Richard Sanchez indicated McMorris is working to sharpen the skills required to play in Division I football, learning how to read plays and quick patterns before they even happen, something he didn’t see much at the high school level.
“We recruited him as a safety because we know he has great running back skills. He can see things as a safety on the running game. Transition has been easy on that aspect. It’s the passing that is a little frustrating for him, but he is working hard in practice and trying to understand the patterns of the game,” Sanchez told OC Sports Zone.
The true freshman understands about the current struggles of transitioning to a new school and a new scheme of the game that he learned playing since his early days of youth football for the Irvine Chargers.
“It’s just a process that I’m excited to go through and become a smarter and better football player,” said McMorris, who is getting used to his new campus life. “It’s has been easy to adjust and transition with the support I get from the SDSU faculty. My family has helped me as well. They’ve been very supportive to me.”
It’s his versatility, mentality and attitude that McMorris has built on since his arrival at his first couple of practices at San Diego State, according to Coach Sanchez.
“He gets along with everyone, works hard in practice, and he has a great attitude,” Sanchez said. “He was a little reserved at first, but he settled in well. He has a lot of potential. Not just as a football player, but also as a young man. And he is improving on his mental aspects of the game.”
Sanchez realizes that McMorris has some learning to do and the true freshman is learning that his spot requires more than speed and physicality. Sanchez does believe that McMorris work ethic can one day make him a standout defensive player in a program that has had stingy defenses over the years.
“The potential and physical aspects are there. It’s the mental part that he needs to improve (on). The veterans have seen those patterns for years and they understand them. He hasn’t really seen a whole lot of pass patterns while in high school. He doesn’t know how to read those well yet, but it takes a couple of years to understand those reads and anticipating the routes. He is getting better.
“He needs to read where the eyes go before the snap, but he is very intelligent and will get there at some point. He is tough. For a freshman to be that physical, that’s a good thing. That transition is working well for him. The expectations are very high here at San Diego State, and he understands that very well.”
McMorris said he is up for the challenge and he believes that the help and camaraderie from his upper-class teammates are certainly improving his game.
“Just being able to practice with the veterans and see how they go about things has really been great experience. It’s those veterans who have just been another coach to me,” said McMorris. “I am just taking in all of what they have to say and applying it to my game.”
McMorris has seen action on special teams as a coverage player, but the question remains on whether he will redshirt for the Aztecs (5-1, 2-1 in the Mountain West Conference).
NCAA regulations allow players to participate in four games and suit up in case they need to fill a spot due, but their redshirt status will be removed the very moment they step into the field and exceed that minimum quota.
“It will be great if it works out that way,” said Sanchez. “We have the mentality of the ‘next man up.’ We try to prepare the guys for that, and he’s topped the No. 2 in the depth chart, and if Patrick’s number is up to play, he will be next in line.”
For his former Santa Ana High School Coach Charlie TeGantvoort, this season has already been a plus in McMorris’ college career.
“Him just dressing up as a true freshman, I believe that he is one of three true freshman at San Diego State that have suited up and have been on the field. That just shows you the type of athlete and the kind of person that he is,” said TeGantvoort. “It was a connection made in heaven with San Diego State and Patrick. Those coaches knew they had a good one, but I think they were a little surprised with how good he is. The sky is the limit for that guy.”
With San Diego State just being one win away from becoming bowl eligible for a 10th consecutive season, McMorris said he is excited to be involved with the team.
“That’s was something I expected when I decided to come here to SDSU,” said the soon-to-be 18-year old triplet who is learning to sharpen his defensive skills and is focusing on impressing his coaches for the remainder of the 2019 season.
-Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone
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