In case anyone was wondering, University of Miami quarterback Stephen Morris said after Saturday’s 52-45 victory against Duke that he’s returning for his senior season.
“I expect everybody to be back,” Morris said. “I’m coming back. We got to get this thing rolling in the right direction.”
Thanks to Morris, that process has already begun. In his first season as a starter, Morris put up numbers that surpassed his more heralded predecessors at the position.
For instance, Morris finished the season with 3,415 yards of total offense, the most in the history of the program. He had three yards more than Bernie Kosar’s 1984 total of 3,412.
Also, Morris’ 3,345 passing yards ranks fifth in a single season at UM, while his 421 attempts and 245 completions are first and second respectively.
Morris was at his best in the Hurricanes’ final four games. He completed 66 of 110 passes (60 percent) for 1,122 yards, 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions while leading Miami to a 3-1 record and a share of the ACC’s Coastal Division title.
Morris capped off his season Saturday by throwing for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s maturing,” offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. “If he can continue to play at that kind of percentage – he was 15-for-25 today – and then we start catching the ball a little better and keep making some (explosive) plays, we’re going to have an opportunity for him to really become a special player.”
Coach Al Golden will meet with reporters Tuesday to discuss the 2012 season and look ahead to 2013. The future — NCAA sanctions notwithstanding — appears bright for the Hurricanes. UM returns 20 starters, 10 on each side of the ball.
The only starter departing from the high-scoring offense — it rang up 40 points six times in 12 games — is tailback Mike James. He’ll be replaced by freshman sensation Duke Johnson.
“We expect a lot from this team and especially our offense with the guys coming back,” Morris said. “We understand that offensively, we have a lot of weapons.”
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