On Location Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp, Jim Mora on UConn, NCAA Realignment, Transfer Portal, NIL & More!

All Access Football is on location for 2023 training camp with pit-stops in Latrobe, PA for Steelers camp, Storrs, CT for UConn camp, plus Jim Mora weighs in on NCAA realignment, NIL, portal and more!

Aug 04, 2023

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ON LOCATION: LATROBE, PA — STEELERS TRAINING CAMP

All Access Football correspondent Bo Marchionte reports on location from Latrobe, PA for Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in this special report.

Much ado has been made about the Steelers defense, led by a healthy TJ Watt and ascending fourth-year pro Alex Highsmith. Pittsburgh also added linebacker Cole Holcomb, while solidifying the secondary with their selection of Joey Porter Jr. in the draft and Patrick Peterson via free agency. On offense, Pittsburgh may have the deepest quarterback room in the NFL. However, we caught up with one rookie signal-caller who is making his mark early on in camp. Plus, a former Steelers draft pick who’s back fighting for a roster spot after failing to make the team a year ago. Learn about the harsh wake up call that changed his outlook on life and the game of football.

UDFA ROOKIE QB TANNER MORGAN A HIDDEN GEM FOR STEELERS

After practice there are pockets of players scattered around the three football fields that reside on the campus of St. Vincent College. Depending on the proximity of your location it's difficult to identify exactly who is engaging in those extra rep without binoculars.

The third field farthest from the stands at Chuck Noll Field is where you will find undrafted rookie quarterback Tanner Morgan throwing pas-after-pass to fellow teammate and undrafted rookie wide receiver Jordan Byrd. The director of the extra throwing session is conducted by Steelers assistant quarterbacks coach David Corley.

“DC (Corley) has really helped me out,” Morgan said. “Just going through the stuff to make sure I stay sharp. Coach Sulli (Mike Sullivan) and DC helped to put me into positions to succeed. Write stuff down and go through plays.”

Entering rookie minicamp, there was buzz that Morgan was hand-picked to be the third quarterback behind Kenny Pickett and backup Mitchell Trubisky. That theory was proved wrong five days into rookie-camp when the Steelers inked 2018 third round pick Mason Rudolph to one-year contract.

“Anyway I can be an asset,” Morgan said of being fourth on the depth chart. “Learning the best I can and being a positive contributor anyway I can be is part of it. It’s a great room.”

“Honored to be part of it. Guys who have played a lot of football in this league and guys who have coached a lot of football in this league. It’s pretty fun to be in that room and learn from their experience.”

The reason for training camp is to develop and compete. The signing of Rudolph doesn’t immediately eliminate Morgan from making the final roster, it just makes the job that much harder to obtain. It will be an interesting storyline to watch unfold. Can Morgan earn a job outright in Pittsburgh? Or, is there another city in the cards for the former Minnesota Golden Gophers signal-caller who posted a career record of 33-14 as a collegiate starter.

The reason for optimism is due to the grit and determination that Morgan has demonstrated as a competitor. The Steelers have connected recently on some late round and undrafted quarterbacks that have either started or remain on NFL rosters. The examples are undrafted star in 2019 quarterback Delvin Hodges and 2022 seventh round pick Chris Oladokun who was cut by Pittsburgh and signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The unpredictability of the NFL saw Hodges start six games for the injury-ravaged Steelers. A disastrous outcome would need to occur in order for Morgan to start six games as a rookie– it would also put all of Steelers Nation on the verge of a mental football breakdown.

While nearly impossible to predict, no one could have foreseen Hodges under center for a half dozen games in 2019. A starter in 47-of-51 games he competed in, Morgan is the school’s winningest all-time quarterback and ranks second in both passing yards and touchdowns for the Golden Gophers. His college numbers never revolved around gaudy statistics at Minnesota. Rather, Morgan provided “a point guard mentality” to the position, as he described it.

“I think first and foremost at quarterback, you have to be a guy people want to be around. Second, is the mental aspect of the game. Getting the ball out on time to playmakers hands is kind of what I do, escape and make plays when you have to.”

His opportunities to showcase all those characteristics should arrive on August 11^th when the Steelers travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in their first preseason game. The three-game exhibition season is essentially a tryout period that will serve as an audition for not only Pittsburgh but the other 31 NFL teams who perhaps are fond of the Kentucky native.

Buried on the depth chart, the coveted reps that Morgan craves aren’t something he’ll receive a lot of during training camp. That’s why staying late after practice to fine-tune his mechanics and remain fluid in the new system is essential in this process.

Despite being older than many other rookies, the 24-year-old Morgan found himself getting the rookie treatment on his first night in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He wasn’t studying his playbook, or hanging out with linebacker Alex Highsmith playing NHL on a gaming system, which they’ve become accustomed to.

“I had to go get snacks for the quarterback room,” Morgan laughed. “So, I was doing that. It’s a snack order from the guys. A lot of seeds. A lot of Rice Crispy treats. Candies. Some Celsius. All kinds of stuff. Seeds and Rice Crispy was the emphasis.”

Morgan referred to himself as a “point guard” who got the ball out on time to the playmakers. Just so happens he ran the point on snacks and displayed the same role while distributing candies to the quarterback room.

His next task is to get back to running the point at quarterback in the National Football League. Starter or backup. It’s all about the opportunity at this point – no pun intended.

WAKE UP CALL FOR ANTHONY MCFARLAND PROVES VALUABLE

One year ago, on August 30th, running back Anthony McFarland was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a jolt for McFarland, who was chosen in the fourth round by the organization just two years prior.

“Absolutely it hit me,” McFarland said, while working with fellow backmate Jaylen Warren (his best friend) late after the second day of training camp practice. “I’m glad I actually kind of saw that and it hit me on what it’s all about and made me more detailed in my work.”

The change in the way he approaches the game has been evident early on in camp. On this day, Kenny Pickett found McFarland darting out of the backfield for a score–McFarland would wind up lining up all over the field.

If training camp fantasy football is possible, then McFarland would have been the stud of choice at Steelers camp. His reps resulted in touches and touches resulted in production.

“I’m just trying to put my head down and grind man,” McFarland said without acknowledging the splendid afternoon he put together on Chuck Noll Field. “Trying to get into the space where I just become a better player. Just show my versatility not only on offense but more importantly special teams, in the return game or kickoff just anything.”

That is where McFarland is going to make the most impact. Special teams is his meal ticket to remaining active on the roster and securing the third running back position. General manager Omar Khan was questioned on the inexperience of the unit behind both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren during his training camp press conference. Khan was quick to defend the group and even called out the third year running back by name.

“You know, I don't really agree with that,” Khan replied to the notion of inexperience. “We have Anthony McFarland; he's been here for a couple years. We've got (Jason) Huntley here and we've got some young guys and we have confidence in those guys. If we didn't have confidence in those guys, we would address it differently.”

In hindsight, Khan was simply naming a couple of running backs with some league experience underneath their belt. However, to quickly downplay the notion they aren’t capable of success, especially in the case of McFarland, it’s a bit premature to dismiss his potential. The moment when McFarland was caught off guard, was an epiphany to understand how to approach the game like a professional.

“Learning, you can’t rely just on your talent and skill at this level no matter how good you are,” was the biggest take-away McFarland said he learned. “It’s the little things that matter. So, I really started to understand that after being cut and being on the practice squad and actually just watching the game. Literally just watching the game and was like, this is what it’s about.”

The execution of film study and diving back into the intricacies of playing the position went hand-in-hand for McFarland to realize and hopefully capitalize by obtaining a spot on the 53 man roster. McFarland was one of the last players on the field Friday. As he was wrapping up, a security guard nearby leaned over and stated, “you know there’s running back you should keep an eye on,” pointing towards McFarland.

The third-year pro has learned a valuable lesson that talent gets you to the next level but staying there requires the mindset of a professional. The 4.44 forty he ran at the NFL Combine and numerous accolades he earned during his illustrious Terrapins are ancient history. Living in the here and now requires him to take everything up ten notches.

“It comes down to the little things,” McFarland said. “For example, on a run play and knowing how those blocking schemes work. Instead of getting the ball and just running. A lot of guys won’t admit that but that’s what a lot of guys do. I was one of those guys. I’d just rely on my instincts and not my ability to know the game and understand how it works.

“So, just little things like that. From the running game to the passing game. Protections and knowing what defenses do and their tendencies. What they’re lined-up in. My perspective has definitely changed since my rookie year. The biggest thing I’ve learned is just how to really become a professional.”

The residue of his rookie season is being washed away by a more diligent young man with a mature attitude. Maybe that is why he received so many touches on the second day of training camp.

It’s possible the Steelers are recognizing “the little things” as well.

*For more from Bo Marchionte be sure to follow @College2Pro

ALL ACCESS FOOTBALL NETWORK | NFL DRAFT WATCH

The NFL Draft Watch Series with Ric Serritella & Eli Nachmany rolls on all season long, be sure to subscribe to the All Access Football YouTube Channel for new alerts. The following 2024 NFL Draft prospect videos have been added to the channel this week, click on each player below to watch our video scouting reports:

QB Devin Leary, Kentucky || WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State || WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M || WR Will Sheppard, Vanderbilt || EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Florida || EDGE Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State || CB Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn || S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

*Coming Soon: All Access Football Podcast Hosted By Hype! REAL Football Talk.

STORRS, CT — UCONN HUSKIES TRAINING CAMP

Few outsiders have made more trips to Storrs, CT over the past two years than Ric Serritella, who has watched this UConn football team rise from the ashes in just one year. Suddenly, the Huskies are being bandied about as a possible addition to the Big 12, as NCAA realignment continues to dominate summer discussions. Be sure to check out the Jim Mora media session below for an in-depth conversation on the state of the NCAA, whether or not the transfer portal is a positive for college football, his take on NIL and thoughts on whether the Huskies would welcome entry into the ‘P5.’ In addition, special guest contributor and UConn alumni Matthew Chudoba has penned an in-depth article on the Huskies ‘Revolution.’ Plus, Serritella provides a team outlook with his training camp recap.

CORRECTING THE NARRATIVE ON UCONN FOOTBALL

The national perception that the Huskies football program is a laughingstock is flat out wrong

With the annual conference realignment cycle now in full swing and Colorado returning to the Big 12, the spotlight is shining brightly over Storrs. Will the Huskies follow the herd and join the Buffaloes in the Big 12? Or will they once again be denied the Power 5 invite they have coveted for well over a decade and counting?

The answer will likely come within the next few days, but the buzz of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark being intrigued by UConn has Jim Mora’s program attracting national attention – and unfortunately the ink to go with it – from college football writers at mainstream sports publications like SI, USA TODAY, CBS Sports and countless others.

If you have yet to read any of the articles, you aren’t missing out on anything original. It’s the same overplayed and recycled narrative we’ve been hearing since Randy Edsall left town the first time: UConn football is a laughingstock; the program will never be competitive; people in Connecticut don’t care about college football. The amount of shade being written about the Huskies football program right now by national college pundits in an attempt to stop the Big 12 from poaching UConn is rather distasteful.

The problem with their narrative – and pretty much every other sportswriter who has written a UConn football program obituary in the past – is its highly flawed and cherry-picked. It overlooks one important fact: mainly, that from 2002, the first year UConn joined the Football Bowl Subdivision, through 2010, the year the Huskies made the Fiesta Bowl, it was among the most successful football programs in the entire country.

So successful, in fact, that the program racked up more wins (65) than traditional powerhouse Notre Dame (64) – whom UConn beat at Notre Dame Stadium in 2009 – and current Power 5 schools Arizona State (61), UCLA (58), Ole Miss (53), Kentucky (52), Iowa State (44), Baylor (36), and many others. On top of that, the Huskies reached four straight bowl appearances from 2007 – 2010, winning two of them (with another bowl appearance and win in 2004), entered the national rankings for the first time in program history, and had 11 players selected in the NFL Draft, including its first-ever Round 1 draft pick in running back Donald Brown.

It’s true that the past is not indicative of future success, but it’s also true that the past is not indicative of future failure either. What it boils down to is UConn has proven it can be successful and competitive at the highest level of college football, and that’s irrefutable, no matter what the national pundits may want you to believe.

Another preferred talking point, but also misinformed, the national media likes to recite is the low level of fan support and relative lack of overall interest in college football in Connecticut. Look, I’m not arguing that UConn isn’t a basketball-first state and school – it is and always will be; the 16 combined national championships shared by the men’s and women’s teams have something to do with it – but it wasn’t that long ago when football games were once one of the hottest tickets in town.

While the popularity of college football in Connecticut will never match the stature it holds in the South or Midwest (it’s more of a lifestyle thing), the Huskies do have the benefit of a strong and passionate fanbase. During its golden era, UConn never had trouble attracting fans to Rentschler Field. In fact, in 2009, UConn reported that it “played to 96-percent of capacity all-time in East Hartford, drawing 1,581,291 fans, or an average of 38,568 per game.” Former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffith even described Rentschler Field as the loudest environment he ever played in.

What it ultimately boils down to is the national media is leaning too heavily into the historic failures of the football program’s past decade – a period defined by consecutive poor coaching hires and an ill-suited conference – when evaluating its place in the realignment hierarchy at the expense of the successes that came in the early aughts. It would be one thing if UConn hadn’t proven its ability to compete at the highest level. But it has, and it will again, especially now that Coach Mora has established a champion-level culture and is recruiting at a high level.

It won’t be long before UConn starts racking up wins again consistently, both at home and on the road – heck, it might even be this coming season given the talent up and down the roster. And as the wins begin to pile up, so too will ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and national interest. Ultimately, the choice isn’t UConn’s to make (until it is), but the Big 12 would be foolish to pass on the Huskies – and the value of the brand – once again this time around. And if it does, it is essentially being swayed by a highly flawed national perception of UConn football that has simply been left unchecked for far too long.

A lifelong Connecticut resident, UConn grad and strategic communications professional, follow Matthew Chudoba @conn_nation