MOUNT ULLA — Fifteen pounds heavier and 2 inches taller than when he graduated from West Rowan, receiver Jarvis Morgan announced he’s transferred from Winston-Salem State to Charlotte.
Morgan, almost 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, graduated from West in 2012 after contributing to the 2009 and 2010 3A state-championship teams and starring for a state runner-up team in 2011.
He redshirted the 2012 season at Winston-Salem State, then played in only one game in 2013. He caught two passes for 12 yards in a personal homecoming at Livingstone.
Morgan said he has enrolled for the spring semester at Charlotte. Classes start Jan. 8.
“I’m just looking for a new opportunity,” Morgan said. “I have nothing but good things to say about Winston-Salem State. They took me in, and Coach (Connell) Maynor and the assistant coaches helped me grow as a player and in a lot of other ways. They showed me a lot of love and they helped me a lot.”
After going 45-6 in four seasons and leading Winston-Salem State to three D-II playoff appearances, Maynor took the head job at Hampton and will be taking most of his WSSU staff with him.
WSSU offensive line coach John Eder and defensive coordinator Keinus Boulware are candidates to replace Maynor, and Catawba defensive coordinator Keith Henry’s name also has been mentioned in the coaching search.
When Morgan was being recruited at West, his decision came down to Charlotte, which was just getting its program started, and Winston-Salem State. He signed in February, 2012.
“It really came down to those two options,” Morgan said. “And it wasn’t a bad move at all to choose Winston-Salem State. It’s just that Charlotte looks like the right environment for me now.”
Charlotte went 5-6 this season in an inconsistent but often exciting debut. Former A.L. Brown running back Kalif Phillips starred for the 49ers as a true freshman, and highly regarded West Rowan safety Najee Tucker has committed to the 49ers and will officially sign next month.
“I know some of the coaches well from when they recruited me, and I’m also friends with a few of the guys like Kalif,” Morgan said. “I think Charlotte showed this season that they know what they’re doing. They played a lot of freshmen, but they had a pretty good season.”
Morgan could provide some help.
He had a super senior season for the Falcons with 48 catches for 1,015 yards, the ninth-best receiving season in Rowan County history and the third-best at West. He scored 15 touchdowns, 13 on receptions, one on a 40-yard run and one on the return of an onside kick that sealed a victory against Salisbury.
Morgan had four 100-yard receiving games that season. He broke out with a 180-yard night against Davie County, and he enjoyed a four-TD night against East Rowan. He caught an 82-yard bomb from QB Zay Laster against North Iredell and had a 71-yard scoring catch against Mount Pleasant in the opening round of the playoffs. He added TD catches in big playoff wins against Concord and Burns. In West’s loss to Havelock in the 3A final, he had six catches for 73 yards.
Morgan also was an all-county basketball player. Mostly a stick-back guy and a dunker, he averaged 10.0 points as a junior and 9.9 as a senior and finished with 529 career points.
Now he’s starting over in a lot of ways, but, as always, he’s enthusiastic.
“I’ve got a new home,” he said. “I’m excited about that.”