#5 Nyles Morgan 2016-17 Football Roster

MORGAN’S PLACE IN THE IRISH RECORD BOOKS

Single-Season Tackles by Freshman (2014, 47, t-8th)

MORGAN’S HONORS & AWARDS

Notre Dame Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2016)Butkus Award Watch List (2017, 2016, 2015)Bednarik Award Watch List (2017)Nagurski Award Watch List (2017)Notre Dame captain (2017)Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team (2014)

Sporting News Freshman All-America Team (2014)

MORGAN’S CAREER HIGHS

Tackles: 13, at Texas, Sept. 4, 2016 (9-4)Sacks: 2.0, Miami, Fla., Oct. 29, 2016 (2-0)Tackles for loss: 3.0, Miami, Fla., Oct. 29, 2016 (3-0)Fumbles forced: 1, vs. Navy, Oct. 10, 2015Fumbles recovered: 1, at NC State, Oct. 8, 2016

Pass breakups: 1, 4x, last Miami, Fla., Oct. 29, 2016

JUNIOR SEASON (2016)

Started all 12 games for the IrishLed the team in tackles with 94 (49-45)Opened the season with a career-best 13 tackles (9-4) at Texas (Sept. 4)Recorded double digit tackles on four other occasions: Michigan State (8-2), Duke (7-3), Syracuse (3-7) and Navy (1-10)Registered six TFLs (5-2) including a career-best three vs. Miami, Fla. (Oct. 29)Collected a career-best two sacks against the Hurricanes, as well as tallying sacks vs. Duke and Syracuse.

Recovered a fumble at NC State (Oct. 8)

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2015)

Played in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teamsRegistered eight tackles on special teams, which was second-best on the squadHis eight tackles on kickoff return led the IrishMost extensive action at linebacker came against UMass (Sept. 26)Made seven tackles and three solo stops against the Minutemen

Forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half against Navy (Oct. 10) which the Irish recovered at the Navy 26 and scored a momentum-swinging TD

FRESHMAN SEASON (2014)

Played in 12 games and started four (at No. 11 Arizona State, Northwestern, Louisville and No. 22 LSU)One of five true freshmen (Greer Martini, Drue Tranquill, Andrew Trumbetti and Grant Blankenship) to register at least 10 tacklesOne of six true freshmen (Martini, Tranquill, Trumbetti, Blankenship and Daniel Cage) on defense who played in at least 11 gamesOne of four true freshmen (Martini, Tranquill and Trumbetti) to start on defenseSeventh on the team with 47 tacklesAdded three and a half TFLs, one sack, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurryCollected at least 10 tackles in three consecutive games (Northwestern, Louisville and USC)Had at least a half TFL in last four games and five of the last six contestsOne of 10 Irish freshmen who made his career debut in the season-opening victory over Rice (Aug. 30)Replaced injured senior LB Joe Schmidt in the 49-39 victory over Navy (Nov. 1) and registered four tackles, including three solo stops, and one TFL (the first of his career)Made his first career start at No. 11 Arizona State (Nov. 8) and recorded four solo tacklesRegistered a then career-best 10 tackles vs. Northwestern (Nov. 15)Recorded 10 tackles, half of a TFL and a QB hurry against Louisville (Nov. 22) before being ejected in the third quarter for a targeting foulRecorded all 11 tackles, and half TFL, at USC (Nov. 29) in the second half – suspended for the first half following ejection for targeting against Louisville

Registered four tackles, including half a sack, in the 31-28 Music City Bowl victory over No. 22 LSU (Dec. 30)

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA

First-team linebacker on USA Today All-USA prep All-America squad for 2013Ranked as 34th player nationally by Scout.com, 54th by both Tom Lemming/CBS Sports, 75th by both ESPN and Rivals.com and 97th by 247SportsChicago Tribune and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 6A first-team all-state linebackerChosen for Chicago Sun-Times all-area squad for 2013Two-time pick as Northwest Indiana Times Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior in 2012 and 2013Named to Northwest Indiana Times all-area squad as both a junior and seniorAll-Southland Athletic Conference pick for 2013 and first-team all-area linebacker by Southtown StarMade 115 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and had four sacks, two forced fumbles as senior in 2013 on 8-2 squad at Crete-Monee High School in Crete, IllinoisReturned his only 2013 interception for a TD in a playoff game versus ProvidenceHelped Crete-Monee to Illinois Class 6A state title as a junior in 2012 with 14-0 record, as his forced fumble in the championship game shifted momentumCrete-Monee defense in 2012 allowed only four regular-season TDsMade 107 tackles, 73 of them solo, to go with 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a junior in 2012Three-year starter who helped Crete-Monee to 40-2 record over those seasonsPlayed in U.S. Army All-America Bowl in San Antonio, making three tackles and sharing a tackle for loss for West squadFather, Thomas, played football at Western IllinoisEnrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in psychology