The second hiring domino of this year’s coaching carousel fell Tuesday with Oklahoma State hiring Eric Morris as its next football coach.
Morris has North Texas (10-1) in the thick of the College Football Playoff chase with a spot in the American Conference Championship game on the line this weekend against Temple.
Here’s how the hire grades out:
Eric Morris to Oklahoma State grade
A-
Will it work? Don’t know.Do I like the hire? Absolutely.
Oklahoma State is catching Morris, 40, on his way up. After two losing seasons to start his North Texas tenure, he’s enjoyed a breakout campaign in Year 3, steering the Mean Green into playoff contention. If UNT’s star freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker follows Morris to Stillwater, all the better. Mestemaker played safety as a high school senior. Paired with Morris, he’s become the American Conference’s best quarterback. Impressive.
Morris suits Oklahoma State’s needs. He’s from Texas, a crucial state for Cowboys recruiting, and he’s spent most of his coaching career within the state. He’ll bring a track record for quarterback development within the Air Raid offense. That system makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys. Plenty of high schools in Texas run the Air Raid, inspired by former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. Morris played for Leach at Texas Tech and worked under him at Washington State.
Just consider the quarterbacks Morris has helped develop. Baker Mayfield. Patrick Mahomes. Cam Ward.
Is it any wonder I like this hire for a program that needs a revolution of offense?