Nyles Morgan.

Nyles Morgan Named To The FWAA Freshman All-America Team

Jan. 14, 2015

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame freshman linebacker Nyles Morgan (Crete, Illinois/Crete-Monee High School) was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team Wednesday. The 6-1, 230-pounder was also named a freshman All-American by Sporting News.

Morgan played in 12 games as a rookie and started each of the last four games of the 2014 season. He registered 47 tackles, three and a half for loss, half a sack, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Morgan’s 47 stops were tied for the eighth-most in school history by a freshman.

Following a season-ending injury to Irish MVP Joe Schmidt on Nov. 1, Morgan moved into the starting lineup on a full-time basis the following week at Arizona State. He collected 39 tackles over Notre Dame’s final five games of the year, including three straight outings with at least 10 stops to end the regular season (Northwestern, Louisville and USC).

Morgan becomes the fifth Irish player to earn a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team since the inception of the squad in 2001. Other former Notre Dame players who have earned a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-America squad include: offensive tackle Sam Young (2006), defensive tackle Ian Williams (2007), defensive end Aaron Lynch (2011) and cornerback KeiVarae Russell (2012).

Morgan is one of 20 Irish starters from the Music City Bowl victory over LSU who will participate in Notre Dame’s spring football practices that begin March 2.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.

— ND —