Former Ryle, current Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan to appear on show with Tony Dungy

UNION – The physical side of former Ryle High School and current University of Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan is evident for those that follow major college football and the Big Ten in particular.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Morgan threw a touchdown in every game for coach P.J. Fleck's Golden Gophers and finished with 3,253 yards through the air. He chucked 30 scoring passes against only seven interceptions. The Gophers went 11-2 and defeated Auburn in the Outback Bowl with Morgan throwing for a pair of touchdowns.

That type of success for a redshirt sophomore, or anyone, requires not just physical skill, but a sound mental presence. Morgan, who threw for over 10,000 yards as a Kentucky prep quarterback at Hazard and then Ryle, not only studies defenses, he also studies another book which has helped him lay a foundation.

Morgan's Twitter photo shows a cross and refers to a Bible verse (Colossians 3:23). In 2018's Quick Lane Bowl, where he also threw for two touchdowns, he gave a fan a sweatband with two Ws and a cross. When the fan later inquired what it meant, Morgan told him "worship and win".

Morgan has been doing both for some time and will share that faith Saturday morning on a national broadcast with former Buccaneers and Colts coach and NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dungy. 

Arise With The Guys features NBC analyst Dungy and will be streamed online Saturday from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m EST.  Dungy, who also was a former Minnesota Gopher quarterback before playing defensive back for the Steelers in the pros will interview Morgan and teammate Carter Coughlin, a linebacker entering the NFL Draft. 

Arise With The Guys is an annual men's-only event where professional and collegiate Christian athletes share their inspirational messages of faith, godly values, and legacy-building according to their website. 

"We're just going to share the gospel," Morgan said. "A lot of our team is involved with Athletes in Action here on campus. We have a lot of guys that believe in God and some that don't, but they're all our brothers. When you have teammates on the same spiritual journey as you, it makes it a lot easier and a lot more rewarding to go on the same path together."

Morgan has been at his Kentucky home trying to train for the upcoming season and dealing with the new coronavirus obstacles. As he spoke, you could hear the clanging of barbells in the background at a friend's makeshift weight room.

Morgan has noticed how the recent sacrifices and adjustments forced by COVID-19 have affected those around him and believes he has an answer.

"I think a lot of people are drawing closer to God who haven't had a faith background or haven't been too involved in their faith or kind of stepped away," Morgan said. "I've seen a lot of people reconnect with the Lord throughout this time. A lot of people are praying for the first time in years or maybe for the first time ever."

Morgan hopes the online stream with Dungy connects and notes there have been more people going to online churches. With doors closed, he thinks many are still hearing the messages through technology. 

The interview with Dungy will likely touch on football with the Gophers getting some limelight last fall when ESPN's GameDay "rowed the boat" to Minnesota for Fleck and the Gophers prior to their Big Ten Showdown with Wisconsin. Though they lost that game, Morgan and Minnesota were able to rebound in their bowl game. The quarterback who likes to "air it out" credits his spiritual life for keeping him grounded.

"In my athletic life, I've failed a lot," Morgan said. "I've learned from those failings how to grow. I've grown from each and every one of them and I use them to put in my tool bank to learn not to make the same mistake twice."

Also appearing on the live stream will be another Minnesota quarterback, Kirk Cousins of the Vikings. and baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. The event had previously taken place in front of a live audience but switched to the live stream because of coronavirus precautions