JOHN MIDDLETON
Sports Editor
If you name a position on the football field chances are Harlan’s Dakota Morris has likely played it — and been very successful doing so.
“I like being able to do a lot of different things,” Morris said. “I try to be a leader on both sides of the ball, and always know what’s going on. It keeps you in the game.”
The senior is one of the Green Dragons’ best rushers, receivers and blockers from his H-back position on the offensive side of the ball. He is currently second on the team in rushing with over 300 yards and third in receptions and receiving yards.
“Offensively, he is either a ball-carrier, a receiver or we have him making the key block on the play. He is our do-everything kid on offense,” said Harlan coach J.B. Donahue. “We would like to have gotten him the ball more than we have this year, but I think the limited amount that we have gotten him the ball has allowed him to make big plays when he does get it.”
Morris is perhaps even more versatile on the defensive side of the ball, lining up along the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. Morris leads Harlan with three interceptions, is second with two fumble recoveries and is the team’s third-leading tackler.
“Defensively, he has played everything for us from defensive end, linebacker and safety to corner. On top of that, he is usually in the process of getting everybody on the field lined up,” Donahue said. “He just knows what to do and expect. I think he is awfully talented on both sides of the football, but as a defender, he just always seems to get himself in the right spot.”
Although his versatility is crucial for the Green Dragons, Morris’ biggest strength, both on and off of the football field, are likely his intelligence and decision-making.
“I could talk all night about Dakota and probably not say enough. He is a tremendous young man and a heck of a good football player. He is the type of kid who does the right thing just because it is the right thing to do. He don’t have to be told to or made to,” Donahue said. “I just can’t say enough about his work ethic and his leadership by example.”
Those traits have made him Morris a leader for Harlan’s large and talented senior class.
“These guys are really self-motivated. I just try to go out there and play as hard as I can so they will have somebody to follow,” Morris said. “There are a lot of leaders on the team. That has really helped our success. We have had so many memories on and off the field.”
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