Arkansas State Offers Gilmer Receiver LaMarcus Morton

Arkansas State made its first move in East Texas' 2017 football recruiting class Monday.

Gilmer receiver LaMarcus Morton, who reported the news via his own personal Twitter account, is the Red Wolves program's first target of the new cycle. He's a few months removed from helping his squad reach the Class 4A Division II state semifinals and was the team's leading receiver as a first-year, full-time varsity player.

Morton (6-2, 175) also holds a college football scholarship opportunity from Tulsa, which offered him on March 5.

Arkansas State reached out to seven regional players in the last recruiting cycle, but each targeted player ultimately signed with a different university. Three of the prospects opted to attend schools in power five conferences.

The Red Wolves have made splashes in recent years as a relative newcomer to the FBS level of competition. They will be going for their sixth straight bowl appearance this season and their seventh in total with third-year head coach Blake Anderson leading the charge.

Anderson succeeded a series of one-and-done coaches. Arkansas State's recent success helped promote former head coaches Hugh Freeze and Gus Malzahn to Southeastern Conference jobs and also helped Bryan Harsin make the transition from offensive coordinator at Texas to head coach at his alma mater, Boise State.

Arkansas State posted a 16-10 record through Anderson's first two years in Jonesboro, Ark. He guided the team to a Sun Belt Conference championship this past season with an 8-0 league record.

The Red Wolves love scheduling up in non-conference play. If Morton signs with the team, he'll have the opportunity to participate in one-game sets against Alabama, Miami and Nebraska during his collegiate career.

Morton caught for 589 yards and seven scores on 34 receptions as a junior, which might seem a little underwhelming compared to a few of his local peers. Gilmer, however, had 17 players make at least one reception through its 15-game season, and 10 players recorded at least 100 yards while the team additionally put up 3,158 rushing yards.

Morton led all individual receivers by 118 yards.

As an occasional defensive back supplement, Morton made 18 tackles and picked off two passes.

Morton, like all high school football players currently in their junior year, will become eligible to sign with any program that offers him on Feb. 1, 2017.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — offers from Bowling Green, Houston, SMU, ULL (4)
• Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
• Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Arkansas, Kansas (3)
• Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR, 6-2, 180 — offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (10)
• Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (6)
• Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — offer from Air Force (1)
• Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-9, 186 — offers from SMU, Tulane, ULL (3)
• Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Houston, Kansas, North Texas, Oklahoma State; Ole Miss; SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (9)
• LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — offer from Arkansas State, Tulsa (2)
• Javontavius Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — offers from Houston, SMU, Texas State, ULL, UTSA (5)
• Bryson Smith, John Tyler, ATH, 5-11, 160 — offers from Bowling Green, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, Texas State, ULL (7)
• Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas Tech (7)