Despite suffering a serious knee injury last year, Ankeny linebacker Nolan Morrison will still be taking his talents to the next level.
The senior has committed to play football for Grand View University in the fall.
“I had been talking to quite a few schools, but Grand View was one of the few that I actually visited,” said Morrison. “Some things I liked about Grand View were the coaching staff, of whom all were super nice and knowledgeable. I also liked the community and culture that was being built there, and I could see myself being a part of it.”
Morrison helped the Hawks to a 9-2 record as a junior in 2022. He racked up 38.5 tackles, including seven for losses and one sack.
Morrison was projected to be a starter last fall under first-year coach Jeff Bauer until he injured his knee while playing basketball over the summer.
“It was a complete ACL and PCL tear, complete and partial tears to the medial and lateral menisci, as well as partial tears to the MCL and LCL,” Morrison said.
The injury forced Morrison to miss the entire football and basketball seasons. It also hindered his recruiting.
“Not having any senior film made it pretty tough to be able to be further recruited or seen by schools at the Division I or II levels that I had talked to during my junior year,” Morrison said. “But at the end of the day, I found a school I loved near home so I think this was God’s plan all along!”