Committed: Alabama freshman signed 4 years contract with Michigan Wolverine with great potentials
Playing for Michigan gave Courtney Morgan a PhD in football. During his first stint in Ann Arbor, the future Alabama football general manager saw plenty of greatness.
Morgan, a former Wolverines offensive lineman, spent time around the likes of Steve Hutchinson, Lamar Woodley, Leon Hall, and this guy named Tom Brady, among other future NFL stars.
“You weren’t with them when they made it,” Morgan told AL.com in December. “You’re with them when you’re coming up. I think that shows you, you know what it looks like. That’s what helps me with my job. I know what it looks like.”
Case in point: Morgan saw offensive lineman Jake Long at an early age. Morgan was a senior when Long was a freshman for Michigan. That’s the same Long whom the Miami Dolphins selected with the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
“So I know what that offensive tackle looks like,” Morgan said in December. “I think Jackson Lloyd coming in here can be a guy like that. Jake Long was a guy who was (6-8, 303 lbs) as a freshman who was special by his movement skills.”
That’s high praise for the new Crimson Tide offensive tackle from Carmel, California. But the comparison has its merit.
Lloyd is listed at 6-7, 310 pounds as a freshman, similar to Long. Both Long and Lloyd each played football, basketball and baseball in high school.
Long played in the NFL from 2008 through 2016. Over that time, Long earned All-Pro recognition twice and four Pro Bowl appearances. During his time at Michigan, Long was a two-time All-American and a two-time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year.
Time will tell how Lloyd’s career will play out. Alabama has an opening at right tackle this season. Wilkin Formby is in pole position for that opening, but Lloyd’s development will be worth monitoring. Even if he doesn’t end up starting this season, his potential long-term is intriguing.
