Antonio Morrison

Antonio Morrison (born December 6, 1994) is a former American football linebacker.

As a senior linebacker in 2011, Morrison was named 1st Team All-State after leading Bolingbrook to an IHSA Class 8A State Championship.

After the season, Morrison participated in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona.

He was named a USA Today 2nd Team All-American.

Rated a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com, Morrison committed to Florida in August 2011 shortly before his senior season.

He chose the Gators over numerous offers that included Alabama and Oregon.

He was also ranked the 11th best inside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com and was ranked the 15th best linebacker by Sports Illustrated.

In July 2013, Morrison was charged with interfering with a police animal after barking at a police dog.

The charge was dropped after it was determined that Morrison acted without malice.

He was suspended for 2 games for the incident by Florida head coach Will Muschamp.

He had two surgeries on January 9, 2014 and February 23, 2015.

Morrison was given a ten-month timetable to fully recovery, but managed to return in six months and was given the permission to return to football the following month in August.

In four seasons with the Florida Gators, Morrison compiled 315 total tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 3 forced fumbles.

On January 3, 2015, Morrsion played in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl, but left the Gators 28–20 victory over East Carolina in the second quarter after he suffered a knee injury while making a tackle.

While covering a screen pass to an East Carolina running back, Morrison and a teammate playing defensive lineman both converged the East Carolina player to make the tackle.

Morrison's teammate accidentally collided with his planted left leg.

He immediately crumbled to the ground, clutching his left leg and began screaming in pain uncontrollably.

The following day, Morrison was diagnosed with torn ligaments and a torn ACL in his left knee.

His injury was described as devastating and Morrison was told he may never normally walk again, let alone return to football.

The injury, dramatically changed Morrison's initial plan to forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

On December 8, 2015, it was announced that Morrison had accepted his invitation to play in the 2016 Senior Bowl.

He played college football for Florida, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Morrison lived in Bellwood, Illinois, and Romeoville, Illinois, before settling in Bolingbrook, Illinois, where he attended Bolingbrook High School.

He was a three-year varsity starter for the football team.

On January 30, 2016, Morrison played in the Reese's Senior Bowl and was part of Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley's South team that defeated the North 27–16.

He was one of 38 collegiate linebackers that was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He failed to appear which initially cause speculation, but Morrison stated at Florida's pro day it was due to an infection.

On March 22, 2016, Morrison attended Florida's pro day and performed all of the combine and positional drills as over 70 scouts and representatives from all 32 NFL teams looked on.

Morrison also attended private workouts and visits with a few teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Chicago Bears.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Morrison was projected to be a seventh round pick or priority undrafted free agent by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Morrison in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Morrison was the 18th linebacker selected in 2016.

On May 6, 2016, the Colts signed Morrison to a four-year, $2.85 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $519,906.

Throughout training camp, Morrison competed against Sio Moore, Nate Irving, Amarlo Herrera, Junior Sylvestre, and Edwin Jackson in an open competition for the vacant starting inside linebacker role after Jerrell Freeman departed during free agency.

Head coach Chuck Pagano named Morrison the fourth inside linebacker on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind D'Qwell Jackson, Moore, and Josh McNary.

He made his professional regular season debut in the Colts' season-opener against the Detroit Lions and made one solo tackle during their 39–35 loss.

Morrison made his first career tackle on tight end Eric Ebron after he caught a 13-yard pass from Matthew Stafford in the second quarter.

On December 11, 2016, Morrison earned his first career start in place of Jackson after Jackson suffered a concussion during a Week 13 victory over the New York Jets and was placed in the concussion protocol.

He finished the Colts' 22–17 loss to the Houston Texans with nine combined tackles.

On December 24, 2016, Morrison collected a season-high 11 combined tackles as the Colts' lost 33–25 at the Oakland Raiders.