?Jed has really gotten stronger over the summer,? Van Horn said. ?When he came back this fall, he really wanted to make a statement. He was one of our top hitters in the fall and really showed good knowledge of the strike zone.?

During the fall, Morris terrorized opposing hurlers, batting .373 with three homers in just 43 at bats. He also showed discipline at the plate, drawing 10 walks while striking out only twice.

While Morris? offensive production was impressive, the coaching staff also noticed a change in the demeanor of the junior, who emerged as one of the team?s leaders. His all-around play has drawn comparisons to his predecessor, Johnny Bench finalist Justin Cowan, another junior college product who emerged into one of the nation?s top catchers in 2000. One advantage that the 6-0, 195-pound Morris has over Cowan is that catcher is one of the Huskers? deepest positions this year with capable backups in sophomore John Grose and freshman Darren Hoffart.

2001 - Junior
Morris enjoyed a solid season behind the plate in his first season at NU. He appeared in 55 contests, batting .341 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Morris started 42 games, primarily against right-handers, while splitting time with Tito Rivera. Morris earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches after ranking among team leaders in doubles (16, second), homers (seven, fourth), slugging percentage (.567, fourth) and on-base percentage (.447, fifth). He reached safely in 38 of his final 44 contests and had 13 multiple-hit games. He also showed good speed for a catcher, going 5-of-6 on the basepaths.

Morris went 2-for-8 at the CWS, going 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a pair of RBIs in NU?s 6-5 loss to Tulane. During the Lincoln Regional, he batted .400, highlighted by his two-out, two-run double in the top of the ninth against Rutgers, tying the score at 10. In the NCAA opener against Northern Iowa, he was 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. Morris was held in check in the Super Regional, going hitless in seven at bats against Rice. At the Big 12 Tournament, he had one hit in 10 at bats, but drove in two runs in NU?s 5-2 win over Iowa State on May 16.

Morris provided the Huskers with a consistent bat in league play, hitting .351 in 19 starts, while ranking in the top 10 in the conference in on-base percentage (.468, fourth), seventh in doubles (10, seventh) and slugging percentage (.568, 10th).

After starting the season in a 2-for-14 slump, Morris broke out at Southern Utah, going 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs. That performance began an 18-for-34 (.529) stretch with 16 RBIs and 11 runs scored. He had a pair of three-hit games in the streak, highlighted by a season-high four RBIs against Wisconsin-Milwaukee on March 28. Morris closed the regular season on a tear, hitting .500 (13-for-25) with nine runs scored and six RBIs in the Huskers? final 11 regular-season games. He recorded a pair of three-hit games against Oklahoma State on May 5 and Northern Iowa on May 8, and drove in three runs in a 15-6 triumph over the Panthers. He was also a solid performer behind the plate, committing just six errors in 365 chances and throwing out over 25 percent (15-of-59) of opposing runners.

Tyler Junior College
Morris starred in 1999, his lone season behind the plate at Tyler Junior College for Coach Jon Groth. In 50 games, he batted .363 with a pair of homers, 47 RBIs and 42 runs scored to earn all-region honors. He redshirted in 2000 after suffering a torn left Achilles in the season opener. Morris selected NU over Northwestern (La.) State, Tulane and Oral Roberts.

Clear Lake High School
Morris was a four-year letterwinner for Coaches Bob Cobb and Sean Wood. As a senior, Morris earned all-state honors, batting .427 with six homers, 33 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .719. He walked a school-record 31 times in 34 games, while striking out just six times as a senior A two-time all-district selection, Morris led CLHS to back-to-back bi-regional titles in 1997 and 1998.