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University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

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Apr 4, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; NAME. (Soobum Im / The University of the Incarnate Word)

Eric Morris

  • Title
    Football Head Coach
Eric Morris was named the head coach of the University of the Incarnate Word football program on Dec. 30, 2017.
 
UIW
HIGHLIGHTS
2019
  • In his second year with the Cardinals, Morris guided the team to five wins, including two over ranked opponents (No. 25 HBU and No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana).
  • Those two wins (on the road in consecutive weeks), marked the first time UIW won back-to-back Southland Conference road games and the first time with consecutive road wins in program history.
  • This also tied the program’s record for road wins in a single season.
  • The team had four third team All-Southland Conference selections: Terence Hickman II (offense), Brandon Floores (offense), Kelechi Anyalebechi (defense) and Jaylon Jimmerson (defense).
  • Jon Copeland was named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America honorable mention team, while Jaylon Jimmerson earned HERO Sports Freshman All-America honorable mention team honors.
  • Morris guided WR Kam Williams to four consecutive 100-yard receiving games, with a season-best 146 and three touchdowns on six catches against Texas Southern.
  • Williams’ three TD catches against TSU tied a program record for single-game TD receptions.
  • Sophomore QB Jon Copeland had six 300-yard games through the air and accumulated 3,341 passing yards. These yards ranked No. 15 nationally.
  • Copeland broke the single season passing yard record for UIW, becoming the first QB to eclipse 3,000 yards in a single season.
  • He now has 11 300-yard games in his career.
  • Copeland also has 6,325 career passing yards, just 143 yards shy of breaking the career passing record at UIW.
  • Copeland averaged 24.83 completions per game, good for sixth nationally, and 278.4 passing yards per game, which ranked No. 13 nationally.
  • UIW forced 33 turnovers, which led the nation even through the first round of the FCS Playoffs and ultimately finished third. The Cardinals also had a 1.33 turnover margin, also a nation-best.
    • The Cardinals snagged 17 interceptions, a conference-high mark. This ranked seventh nationally.
    • Their 16 fumbles recovered ranked third.
    • UIW had a takeaway in 23 consecutive games between 2017 and 2019.
  • UIW’s four defensive touchdowns led the SLC and ranked fifth in the nation.
  • Redshirt sophomore TJ Wright was named to the Academic All-District® football first team, selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
 
2018
  • Morris guided UIW to one of the best turnarounds in the FCS, being named the 2018 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year, the 2018 Southland Conference Coach of the Year, and an Eddie Robinson Award finalist (bestowed upon the STATS FCS national coach of the year) as a result.
  • Morris was also named the 2018 San Antonio-Express News Sportsman of the Year on Jan. 1, 2019.
  • He took over a team with a 1-10 overall record (1-7 in SLC action) in 2017 and guided it to a 6-4 regular season record, a conference championship and the program’s first FCS Playoff appearance in his first season.
  • Morris’ high-powered offensive philosophy led to QB Jon Copeland being named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, a first in school history. The team was awarded four first team all-SLC honorees: RB Ra'Quanne Dickens, WR Phillip Baptiste, OL Brandon Floores, and DL Justin Alexandre, along with three second team selections: QB Copeland, OL Terence Hickman II, and LB Silas Stewart.
  • Morris set records from the beginning, when he started a true freshman quarterback, Copeland, against New Mexico in Week 1. It was the first time that a true freshman started at quarterback for the Cardinals in a season-opening game.
  • Copeland went on to throw for over 400 yards in two consecutive games (vs. SLU and at Lamar), and finished the season with five games of over 300 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback in program history to throw for 300 yards in four or more games in a single season.
  • The offense featured two 200+ yard rushing performances from Dickens in 2018: 213 yards at Central Arkansas (Nov. 10); 220 yards vs. SFA (Sept. 15). Dickens went on to set multiple single season records through the 2018 season.
  • After 11 weeks (the conclusion of UIW’s regular season), the Cardinals led the FCS with 29 turnovers gained.
    • The Cardinals recorded at least one turnover in every game played this season (playoffs included) for the first time in program history.
    • The turnover streak now sits at 12 consecutive games.
    • The defensive highlight of the season came against Sam Houston State on Nov. 3, when UIW forced a program-record seven turnovers.
 
TEAM RECORDS
SEASON
2019
  • Pass completions (303) and pass attempts (523)
  • Pass completion percent (57.9 – 303-523-9)
  • All-purpose yards (6,283)
  • Total points (358)
  • Interception return yards (338)
  • Total tackles (999)
  • Tackles for loss (93.0)
  • Fumbles forced (19) and fumbles recovered (16)
 
2018
  • Passing yards (3,550)
  • Passing TDs (26)
  • Total offense (5,315)
  • Total points (357) (broken again in 2019)
  • Touchdowns (48)
  • Interceptions (18)
 
SINGLE GAME
2019
  • Most net yards rushing (402) (Texas Southern, Sept. 7)
  • Most total offense yards gained (746) (Texas Southern, Sept. 7)
  • Most all-purpose yards gained (840) (Texas Southern, Sept. 7)
  • Most tackles (104) (No. 25 HBU, Oct. 5)
  • Most fumbles forced (4) (No. 11 Nicholls, Nov. 2)
 
2018
  • Most yards of total offense (656) (at UCA, Nov. 10) (broken again in 2019)
  • Most all-purpose yards gained (747) (at UCA, Nov. 10) (broken again in 2019)
  • Most passes completed (39) (at Lamar, Oct. 13)
  • Most passing yards (515) (at Lamar, Oct. 13)
  • Most fumbles recovered (4) (SHSU, Nov. 3)
 
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
SEASON
2019
  • Jon Copeland became the first UIW QB in program history to eclipse 3,000 passing yards, throwing for 3,341 yards in 12 games.
  • Copeland also broke the records for pass completions (298) and pass attempts (507).
  • He threw for 22 touchdowns for the second consecutive season, tying the program record he set in 2018.
  • Copeland’s 3,341 total offensive yards set another program record. Copeland is the only UIW student-athlete to top 3,000 total offensive yards in a single season, a feat he has accomplished in back-to-back seasons.
  • Following a program-best 25 touchdowns responsible for in 2018, Copeland set the record again with 26 TDs responsible for.
  • UIW tied a program-best with two student-athletes (Jerick Pitre and Isaiah Paul) both returning an interception for a TD.
  • Mar’kel Cooks forced three fumbles, tying a program record.
 
2018
  • Dickens broke the program record for single season rushing yards (1,117 yards), becoming programs first 1000-yard rusher in the process.
    • Ranked second in the SLC and finished in the top 20 in the FCS.
  • Dickens also set the program record for rushing touchdowns (14), and 100-yard rushing games in a single season (5).
  • The 14 rushing touchdowns led to a program-high 84 points scored.
  • Copeland shattered the single season passing record when he threw for 2,984 yards, becoming the third quarterback in program history to throw for over 2,000 yards in a single season. He broke this record again in 2019.
  • He also set single season records for pass attempts (368) and pass completions (208). He surpassed those numbers again in 2019.
  • He broke the record for passing touchdowns (22) and tied that number again in 2019.
  • Copeland also broke the record for passing efficiency (137.3), yards per pass (8.1), and yards per game (298.4).
  • Copeland also set the record for total offensive yards (3,061) and touchdowns responsible for (25), both of which were also topped again in 2019.
  • Senior wide receivers Kody Edwards (932 yards) and Baptiste (905 yards) each set records on the outside this season.
    • Baptiste broke single season program records in receptions (59), receiving touchdowns (9), and receptions per game (5.36).
    • Edwards set program bests with five 100-yard receiving outings and 1,389 all-purpose yards.
  • The UIW defense recorded 18 interceptions, topping the previous program record of 16 (2011).
 
CAREER
2019
  • Copeland ranks second in both pass attempts and pass completions, going 506-875-19 through his first two years as a Cardinal.
  • Copeland also has 6,325 career passing yards, just 143 shy of breaking the all-time record. He is also only the second Cardinal in UIW history to surpass 6,000 career passing yards.
  • Copeland broke the passing touchdowns mark. He currently has 44 touchdowns through the air.
  • His 6,375 total offensive yards are second in program history, while his 51 TDs responsible for are just two behind the program record (53 set by Trent Brittain, 2012-16).
  • Kam Williams finished his career with 4.73 receptions per game, setting the program record.
  • Mar’kel Cooks recorded 257 tackles throughout his career, a mark that ranked second in program history (just seven shy of the record).
  • He set the record for assisted tackles, however, amassing 151 through his time with UIW.
 
2018
  • Dickens finished his career with 1,524 rushing yards, good for fourth in program history. He racked up these yards in just two years.
  • Copeland’s 2,984 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns both rank second in career records at UIW. He broke the passing TD record in 2019.
  • Edwards also broke the program record for career receiving yards (2,353) and receptions (140), and he tied the program record for receiving touchdowns (14).
 
SINGLE GAME
2019
  • Copeland set the program record for most touchdown passes with five against Texas Southern on Sept. 7. He also threw for four against Lamar on Oct. 19, which ties for second most.
  • Copeland now owns four of the top five records for most passes completed: 35 at SFA (Nov. 9), 34 against No. 24/25 Nicholls (Nov. 2), 33 at No. 25 HBU (Oct. 5) and 32 against No. 11 Central Arkansas (Nov. 22).
  • Kam Williams caught three TD passes against Texas Southern, tying the program record.
  • Ce’Cori Tolds returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown at New Mexico State on Nov. 16, tying the program record for longest kick return.
 
2018
  • Dickens recorded the longest run from scrimmage in program history on Sept. 1 against New Mexico with a 90-yard touchdown run.
  • He then added the fourth longest run from scrimmage in program history in the home opener, vs. SFA on Sept. 15, when he scampered for a 79-yard touchdown.
  • These two runs also marked the longest two runs by any SLC student-athlete in 2018.
  • Copeland was the quarterback in program history to throw for over 500 yards in a single game (515 yards at Lamar, Oct. 13).
    • Copeland was also the only SLC quarterback to eclipse 500 yards passing in a single game this season, and one of only three quarterbacks to do so in the FCS.
  • Copeland had the most passes completed (39, LU) and attempted (56, LU), and he had the most passing yards (515, LU), among other top-five marks.
  • The UIW defense recorded four interceptions at Central Arkansas to set the UIW record for picks in a single game.
  • The Cardinals recorded seven turnovers against Sam Houston State on Nov. 3. This set the UIW program record and led the SLC in 2018.
 
TEXAS TECH
Morris joined UIW from Texas Tech, where he spent the previous five seasons as offensive coordinator for the prolific Red Raiders offense.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Morris recruited and coached Patrick Mahomes, who was named the Super Bowl LIV MVP after orchestrating the second-largest fourth quarter comeback victory in Super Bowl history for the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Morris produced one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, guiding Tech to annual top 20 rankings in total offense and top 10 rankings in passing offense.
  • Morris helped Tech to three bowl appearances, including a 2017 Birmingham Bowl bid, an appearance in the 2015 AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, and a berth in the National University Holiday Bowl.
 
2017 (OC)
  • The Red Raiders ranked 10th in passing offense and 16th in total offense that season, racking up 474.6 yards per game, including 333.7 through the air.
 
2016 (OC)
  • Tech led the nation in 2016 with an average of 566.6 yards of total offense, including 463 passing yards per game.
  • Morris tutored Jonathan Giles and Keke Coutee.
    • Giles earned All-Big 12 second team honors after recording 1,158 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, both of which ranked in the top 10 in Tech single-season history.
    • Coutee finished second on the team with 890 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
 
2015 (OC)
  • The Red Raiders averaged over 30 points per game during Morris’ tenure and set the single-season school record with 45.1 points per game in 2015.
  • The Red Raiders closed the 2015 campaign ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense, scoring offense and passing offense.
  • Morris created a balanced attack that featured a 4,000-yard passer in Patrick Mahomes II, a 1,000-yard rusher in DeAndre Washington and a 1,000-yard receiver in Jakeem Grant.
    • It marked the first time in Tech history that three different Red Raiders reached those marks in the same season.
    • Grant ended his career as the all-time leading receiver in Tech history. An All-America honoree by several publications, Grant totaled 3,164 receiving yards over his four seasons.
 
2014 (OC)
  • Texas Tech finished with a No. 10 national ranking in total offense after the Red Raiders averaged 504.1 yards per game.
  • Texas Tech also averaged 351.1 yards per game through the air to end the season with a No. 5 national ranking.
  • Washington rushed for 1,103 yards over 12 games, marking the first time a Red Raider running back reached the 1,000-yard mark since Ricky Williams in 1998.
 
2013 (Co-OC)
  • The Red Raiders displayed the nation’s second-ranked passing attack (392.8 yards per game) and the eighth-best unit for total offense (511 yards-per-game).
  • Jace Amaro, a second-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, set an NCAA FBS record for most receiving yards (1,352) in a single season by a tight end and was named a NCAA Consensus All-American.
 
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
  • 2012 - inside receivers coach under Coach Mike Leach at Washington State.
    • Receiving corps hauled in 3,965 yards and 23 touchdowns.
  • 2011 - offensive quality control assistant under Kevin Sumlin at the University of Houston.
    • Cougars led the country in passing (443.8 yards per game), total offense (599.0 yards per game) and scoring average (50.8 points per game).
    • Houston concluded the season with a 12-1 record, which included a win over Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl.
  • 2010 - offensive graduate assistant under Kevin Sumlin at the University of Houston.
    • Coached with Kliff Kingsbury in 2010-11.
 
PRIOR TO COACHING
  • Morris played in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2009.
  • Played as a wide receiver for four years at Texas Tech (2005-08).
  • Also played basketball and football at Shallowater High School.
 
PERSONAL
  • Morris received his bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies from Texas Tech in 2008
  • He and his wife, Maggie, have a son, Jack.