9 Aric Morris
	Class: Senior Hometown: Oak Park, Mich. High School: Berkley Height / Weight: 5-11 / 207 Position: Safety Birthdate: 07/22/1977 Experience: 3L

All-America candidate enters his third season as Michigan State’s starting strong safety . . . joins wide receiver Gari Scott as co-captains for 1999 . . . preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection by Street & Smith’s . . . preseason second-team All-Big Ten pick by The Sporting News . . . returned two interceptions for touchdowns, covering 55 and 60 yards, in the April 10 scrimmage . . .

AS A JUNIOR: Honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media in 1998 . . . presented the Danziger Award as the team’s top Detroit-area player . . . appeared in all 12 games in ’98, including 11 starts (10 at strong safety and one at WILL linebacker) . . . led the team in minutes played at 388.5 . . . led the Spartans in tackles with a career high 127 (76 solos, 51 assists), including eight for losses (31 yards) . . . tied for fourth in the Big Ten, averaging 10.6 tackles per game . . . reached double figures in tackles seven times in ’98 . . . finished second on the team with three interceptions, including one each vs. Northwestern, Michigan and Colorado State . . . recorded a career-high 17 tackles each vs. Penn State (12-5) and Ohio State (10-7) . . . credited with 14 stops (6-8) vs. Illinois . . . had a career-high four pass break-ups vs. Minnesota . . . registered 13 tackles (9-4) vs. Indiana while playing a career-high 41.5 minutes . . . produced 10 stops (4-6) vs. Central Michigan . . . named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week twice, vs. Notre Dame (15 tackles) and Oregon (12) . . . won Spartan Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice, vs. Michigan and Colorado State (2 solo hits) . . . rushed for 21 yards on a fake punt in the fourth quarter vs. Michigan . . .

AS A SOPHOMORE: Saw action in all 12 games in 1997, including eight starts at strong safety . . . ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 72 (46 solos, 26 assists), including eight for losses (23 yards) . . . had 10 stops (9 solos, 1 assist) and returned an interception 18 yards vs. Purdue . . . recorded a career-high 16 tackles (9-7) vs. Michigan, including two behind the line of scrimmage (5 yards) . . . had seven tackles (4-3), including two for losses (4 yards), and broke up three passes vs. Notre Dame . . .

AS A FRESHMAN: Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 1996 and played a total of 91.5 minutes (DNP vs. Purdue) . . . worked behind Ray Hill at right cornerback . . . credited with 19 tackles (14 solos, 5 assists) . . . had two solo hits and a pass break-up vs. Indiana . . . recorded a season-high four stops (2-2) vs. Wisconsin . . . posted three tackles each vs. Illinois (1-2) and Iowa (3-0) . . . recovered a fumble vs. Nebraska . . .

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Featured at “athlete” position on Blue Chip Illustrated’s All-Midwest Super 25 . . . named to Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Teams . . . ranked as Michigan’s No. 4 running back and No. 11 player overall by the Detroit Free Press . . . rated the state's No. 15 prospect on The Detroit News Blue Chip List . . . earned No. 10 ranking on Lansing State Journal’s Catch 22 List . . . three-year starter at both running back and linebacker for Coach Pat Fox at Berkley (Mich.) High School . . . rushed for 1,103 yards on 99 carries (11.1 avg.) and scored 25 touchdowns as a senior . . . produced 98 tackles, including 14 for losses, and three interceptions in 1995 . . . born July 22, 1977 . . . majoring in communication.

Morris’ Career Statistics

       G/GS   UT   AT   TM   TFL-Yds.  INT-Yds.  PBU
1996   11/0   14   5    19   0-0       0-0       1
1997   12/8   46   26   72   0-0       1-18      5
1998   12/11  76   51   127  8-31      3-9       8
Career 35/19  136  82   218  8-31      4-27      14

Kickoff Returns

       No.   Yds.   Avg.   TD   LG
1996   4     50     12.5   0    25