Gilmer Receiver LaMarcus Morton Inks With Oklahoma State

GILMER -- LaMarcus Morton signed a financial aid agreement Monday with the Oklahoma State football program.

The paperwork is in the right hands and a college career effectively began for the region's fifth-leading receiver of the 2015 season. All of the next-level hopes and dreams and have real life.

Carpe diem, baby.

He'll move to Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Tuesday and will be able to participate with his new team immediately whether it be on the field, at the training facility or at the training table.

"It's exciting and bittersweet," Morton said during a signing day ceremony Gilmer High School threw in his honor. "Also nervous, I'll be honest. I'll be a freshman on campus and won't know anyone. But I've talked to some people who have said I'll be OK. We'll just go up there and see what it does for me."

Morton unceremoniously earned his high school degree on the final day of the fall semester. He simply took his final exams a few days after the Buckeyes got bounced from the Class 4A Division II state semifinal round, passed, enjoyed the winter break, and got to sleep in for a few days while his former classmates began the spring semester at Gilmer.

Key to graduating was taking eight classes his final semester. Gilmer seniors have their coursework reduced from eight classes per day to four classes per day.

You might be thinking that's no big deal since many high schools require their seniors to be on campus all day. The point is, the consensus three-star prospect declined to cruise to the finish line only to have the academic and physical intensity pick up to a college level.

Morton's motive was avoiding a redshirt season and being a contributor as a true freshman in 2017.

"It speaks to his focus and the goal he wanted to do," Gilmer coach Matt Turner said. "This is something he thought about. It was something that he wanted to do and then he did the things necessary to do it that the normal student doesn't have to do. He's a focussed individual, this is what he's wanted to do and he's shown the maturity to get it done."

Gilmer celebrated its third consecutive team to send at least one player to the Big 12 Conference with Morton's signing. The 2014 team, which won the 4A Division II state tile, ultimately produced three players for the league and the 2015 state semifinalist squad had one player advance to the power five conference.

Receiver Blake Lynch got the trend started by enrolling for the 2015 spring semester at Baylor. This season could be his breakout year since graduation has wiped up some of the stout depth that was there upon his arrival.

Kris Boyd, a blue chip defensive back, signed with Texas in February of 2015. Quarterback McLane Carter inked the same day with Incarnate Word, but he's now in his first semester at Texas Tech and in the mix to replace Whitehouse graduate and NFL Draft prospect Patrick Mahomes.

Demarco Boyd, a linebacker and the brother of Kris Boyd, signed with Texas last year and redshirted this past season. He attended Morton's ceremony.

"It's a blessing," Morton said. "Not many people sit at that table and get a chance to play Division I football. Like McLane Carter, Blake Lynch, Kris Boyd, it's very nice to be a part of that legacy. I'd like to carry it on in the Big 12."

Oklahoma State was the last of 13 schools to offer Morton on the heels of a 589-yard and 10-touchdown junior season and did so in June. It took the receiver just six days to commit.

As a senior, Morton caught 67 passes for 1,368 yards and 15 scores. He never wavered from his commitment.

"They run a spread and we run a spread," Morton said. "We just like throwing the ball, and they like giving their receivers a chance like Gilmer does. It was just a good fit for me. Other schools, like Texas Tech, they like do that, but I just fell in love with Oklahoma State. It was the right choice for me."