Morgan off to Fast Start

Published on April 14, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Central Valley Coyotes News Release


There is probably no player with the Coyotes as intriguing as offensive specialist Kenyatte Morgan. Given his size, 5'8 and 175 pounds, he's among player's who don't easily draw attention to the opposing team. After the first two games of the season, opposing teams will begin paying a little more attention to him.

In the Coyotes season opener, Morgan grabbed 9 receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns to go along with seven kickoff returns for 152 yards.

In week 2, Morgan then tallied 5 receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns against the Bakersfield Blitz. He also set a franchise record returning a kickoff 58 yards in the third quarter for a touchdown. The touchdown also etched his name in the af2 record book, tying him for first in longest kickoff return for a touchdown. He finished the game with 187 yards returning.

"I just trying to help out my team as much as possible," said Morgan. "I try not to think about individual stats, because the bottom line is we need to get victories. If we get wins, then the stats will follow. I'm obviously honored to be in the record book, but I can't settle there, I have to get better each game and build on what I have started."

Overall, as the Coyotes emerge from their bye week, they will then begin to prepare for the San Diego Riptide (0-2), who visit the Bakersfield Blitz this weekend. Morgan is showing signs of being a serious offensive threat in the West Division.

Morgan has taken a roller coaster ride of a career, after graduating from Montana State, he joined the Oregon Thunderbolts, a semi-pro team which was apart of the Northwestern Football League. He led the team in receptions and touchdowns, which allowed him to sign a contract with the Portland Forest Dragons of the Arena Football League. Morgan appeared in two games for the Dragons grabbing 15 receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns and earning offensive player of the game accolades for each contest.

In 2000, Morgan would spend the year on injured reserve with a back injury, spending time the Los Angeles Avengers and the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League.

The following two seasons, Morgan would spend time with the Buffalo Destroyers and the Grand Rapids Rampage appearing in minimal games.

At the end of the 2002 season Morgan signed with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL as a return specialist and was then allocated to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. He would make it all the way to final cuts before being released.

"It was a test of my will and desire," said Morgan. "I had been bouncing around form team-to-team and I couldn't seem to find my nitch. I knew I loved the game of football and that is what I wanted to do. I just kept working out and trying to better myself as a person and athlete. All I needed was an opportunity and that's what I am getting over here with the Coyotes."

So how has the receiver preformed in the eyes of the coaching staff?

"He's a phenomenal athlete who just needed a chance to display his talent in front of the right people," said Coyotes head coach Cree Morris. "He's had an up and down career, but the guy has a heart of a lion. You can't teach an athlete to have the heart and desire like Kenyatte, it's just one of those attributes he brings on his own."

Morgan and the Central Valley Coyotes will return to action Friday, April 23 as the travel to San Diego to take on the Riptide in their third consecutive divisional game. The Coyotes will then return back home on May 1, to square off against the Peoria Pirates at Selland Arena. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 pm.

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