Get To Know Your Orange Man - #27 George Morris II

Redshirt freshman tailback George Morris may have stars like Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley ahead of him on the depth chart, but some believe that he is the most talented back on the roster.

By Dan Lyons@Dan_Lyons76 Aug 26, 2013, 1:07pm EDT

Name: George Morris II...not Jr, not III.

Position: Running back

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 203

Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA

High School: Central Gwinnett

2012 Stats: Sat out for his redshirt year.

2013 Projections: George is third on the depth chart at halfback, but I don't see any way he doesn't get a few touches every game. Jerome Smith is the workhorse and Prince-Tyson Gulley is the change-of-pace back, but Morris has too much raw talent and top-end speed to keep him out for another year.

How'd He Get Here?: Syracuse beat out Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Utah, Vanderbilt and a bunch of mid majors for George's services.

What'd Scout/Rivals Say?: He was a consensus three-star guy.

Money Quote: George Morris, on the benefits of the redshirt year and how everything started coming together for him during the extra bowl practices:

"Toward the end of the year in bowl practices things started to pick up. I started to see things faster and quicker," Morris said. "It gave me more confidence going into spring ball, knowing I could actually do this. You see things differently, start seeing them before or at the moment. In the start I was just getting the ball and just running, just playing football. I had to learn see who I had to read. At first you go off instincts, but you have to learn who to read, what should be there and when."

Links of Wonder: Morris and fellow redshirt freshman back Devante MacFarlane have impressed the older guys in the running back unit.

Tweets of Wonder: You've gotta love how close the team seems to be:

it's gets no realer than my bros @LightsOutMorgan @AC_TheFuture & @DevanteM2 just know that much love !
— George Morris II (@GMII27) August 1, 2013

What Does Shafer Think:

"I saw some promise out of the young running backs (Morris and Devante McFarlane)," Shafer said. "At the same time we have to do a better job protecting the football when we're getting hit at the collegiate level. It's a little different than what they're used to in high school."

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: We went YEARS thinking George Morris II was George Morris III. All four recruiting sites, Syracuse.com, SUAthletics' officially roster, ESPN...everyone had an extra George Morris floating in the family somewhere. Since George anticipates a big year for himself, he decided to set the record straight this off-season.

Let Us Get a Good Look Atchya: