Morton grew up in Eastland, Texas and attended Eastland High School, where his father is the head football coach.[1] He became the starting quarterback for the Mavericks as a freshman.[2] Morton was named the MVP of District 5-3A after he passed for 2,435 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions and rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns.[3] He repeated as the District 5-3A MVP in his junior season after passing for 2,766 yards and 29 touchdowns.[4] As a senior, Morton passed for 3,613 yards with 37 touchdowns against six interceptions and also rushed for 893 yards and 19 touchdowns and was named the District 5-3A MVP for a third straight season.[5] Morton was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Texas Tech over offers from Baylor, SMU, TCU, and Texas A&M.[6]
College career
Morton played in two games as a true freshman before redshirting the season.[7] He entered his redshirt freshman season as the Red Raiders' third-string quarterback behind starter Tyler Shough and Donovan Smith.[8] Morton saw playing time in four of the team's first five games before being named Texas Tech's starting quarterback after both Shough and Smith suffered injuries.[9] He completed 39 of 62 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and rushed 16 times for 46 yards and one touchdown in his first career start, a 41–31 loss to seventh-ranked Oklahoma State.[10][11] Morton started the team's following game against West Virginia. He finished the game with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 48–10 win and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.[12]
Morton began the 2023 season as the Red Raiders' backup, but became the team's starter after Shough fractured his fibula in week 4 against West Virginia.[13][14][15] In week 6, against Baylor, Morton threw for a career-high three touchdown passes and rushed for another as Texas Tech won 39–14.[16] In week 7, against Kansas State, Morton exited the game with an undisclosed injury.[17] Morton, who took several big hits in the first half, had been dealing with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder since taking over the starting QB position.[18] Morton would return two games later and lead the Red Raiders to an appearance in the Independence Bowl against California. Texas Tech would win 34–14 with Morton throwing for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns, and would be named the game's offensive MVP.[19]
Prior to the 2024 season, Morton was shut down in spring practices so he could fully recover; in July Morton announced that he was fully recovered, having seen several specialists throughout the spring for his shoulder.[20] On August 22, 2024, Morton was officially announced as the Red Raiders' opening day starter.[21] On October 26, against TCU, Morton injured his left shoulder and did not play in the second half.[22] Morton returned to practice the following Tuesday and started in the Red Raiders' following game against Iowa State.[23][24] In week 13, against Oklahoma State, Morton completed 37-of-53 passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns as the Red Raiders won 56–48; for his performance, Morton was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week.[25] The Red Raiders were selected for the Liberty Bowl; however, Morton announced he would sit out of the bowl game following shoulder surgery.[26]
