Georgia's Marshall Morgan insists more to come

Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan makes a 42-yard field goal that enabled the Bulldogs to topple Tennessee 34-31 in overtime in 2013.
Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan makes a 42-yard field goal that enabled the Bulldogs to topple Tennessee 34-31 in overtime in 2013.

So what could he possibly have in store for a grand finale?

Georgia senior kicker Marshall Morgan set a Southeastern Conference single-season accuracy record two years ago and set an SEC career standard last year. He has made 38 of 45 field-goal attempts the past two seasons -- a sizzling 84.4-percent success rate -- but there are still objectives for the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"Of course I want a national championship and the SEC championship," Morgan said by phone Thursday night after practice. "A personal goal of mine is to be an All-American. That's the next step."

Morgan set a league mark in 2013 by making 22 of 24 field-goal tries, that 91.7-percent clip the highest of any SEC kicker with a minimum of 20 makes. His 42-yard field goal to top Tennessee in overtime that season started a streak of 20 consecutive successful field goals that carried into the 2014 season.

That broke the record of 18 in a row set by Tennessee's Fuad Reveiz in 1982, but Morgan isn't frequenting the practice fields in Athens this spring simply resting on the past.

"I look back at this past year, and we had a blocked field goal and a blocked extra point," he said. "I think speeding up our operation is the biggest focus, as well as doing all the little things like making sure I am taking consistent steps every time so I hit the ball in the same spot every time. The little things make the big things turn out good."

The Bulldogs held their ninth spring practice Thursday, working out for two hours. They will practice again Saturday in the team's second scrimmage.

"We're putting the guys through tough situations, and we're learning from them," coach Mark Richt said. "We're getting better. The offense showed improvement, and the defense keeps playing hard and making plays. The scrimmage will be another opportunity and another test.

"We just have to keep working and stay focused on getting better."

It wasn't that long ago when Morgan arrived as the touted successor to another south Florida kicker, Blair Walsh. Morgan had made a 59-yard field goal for American Heritage High and connected from 52 yards out as a freshman at Missouri, but his debut year was plagued by inconsistencies, as he missed four extra points.

Morgan has been outstanding since, with a 28-yard miss in the fourth quarter of last season's 38-35 loss at South Carolina serving as the biggest blemish.

"That one was pretty painful," Morgan said.

His favorite game was the 34-31 triumph at Knoxville in 2013. Morgan connected early from 57 yards out, but it was his 42-yarder that he is quick to pronounce as the most cherished of his career.

A career that is down to one more go-around.

"It is flying by," Morgan said. "I can't believe I am already the top dog now in the locker room. It's crazy. I feel like I walked in here for the first time yesterday."

Odds and ends

The Bulldogs picked up their eighth commitment for 2016 on Thursday night, receiving a nonbinding pledge from tackle E.J. Price. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder from Lawrenceville, Ga., is rated the No. 56 overall prospect nationally by Rivals.com and No. 57 by Scout.com. ... Offensive line coach Rob Sale told reporters after practice that Isaiah Wynn would work again at first-team center in Saturday's scrimmage. ... Sale said that redshirt freshman defensive lineman Lamont Gaillard got looks on offense Thursday and that Hunter Long (three inside positions) and Kendall Baker (right tackle) are the top reserves right now.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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