Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in The Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
Tight ends have flourished at Bowling Green State University under head coach Scot Loeffler.
Quintin Morris is certainly no exception, and he’s been able to make a name for himself at the next level because of it.
Morris, a former two-time All-Mid-American Conference selection who transitioned from wide receiver to tight end while at BGSU, has had plenty of big moments the past few seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The 6-foot-2, 252-pound Texas native has been used primarily as a blocking tight end, but has made memorable plays with his hands as well.
Morris signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and made his NFL debut the following year. In 41 career regular season games, Morris has 12 catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
He had a 14-yard reception from quarterback Josh Allen in snowy conditions in helping the Bills knock off the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 on Dec. 1 in Buffalo. The victory helped Buffalo (10-2) clinch the AFC East title and a spot in the playoffs.
Morris’ touchdown receptions have been clutch. He hauled in a tough over-the-shoulder grab in traffic for a 2-yard score late in Buffalo’s 30-27 win over Miami on Nov. 3, and he had a game-winning 15-yard touchdown catch in double coverage with less than four minutes remaining in the Bills’ 14-9 victory over the New York Giants last season.
During his college career (40 games), Morris totaled 1,529 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 125 receptions for the Falcons. He was first-team All-MAC in the shortened 2020 season and second team the previous year.
The Blade caught up with Morris to talk about his football career.
The Blade: The Bills are on quite a roll right now, what’s been the most exciting part of the season so far for you?
Morris: “Really, just the journey. I wouldn’t say just this season, just throughout my whole career here. It’s just a blessing to be in this spot with this opportunity playing with an amazing quarterback and an amazing team being able to learn so much throughout this journey. Of course with our success this year, being able to clinch the playoffs and the AFC East this early, it’s just a blessing and can’t take it for granted. It’s just something that doesn’t happen everywhere in this league.”
😱😱😱
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 3, 2024
📺: @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/FhnmVHwfQl
The Blade: What’s the biggest thing that you’ve learned about yourself while playing at the NFL level these past few years?
Morris: “I’d say just like really pushing my limits. Probably the biggest thing is mentally, just the tight end position, obviously I played receiver in college and then switched over to tight end my last year or year and a half. So really, just being able to soak in a lot of knowledge from the tight end position, obviously being a versatile position where you’re in line and then you’re flexing out and just being able to move all over the field. I think it’s really just helped mentally being able to know every spot on the field, and it’s helped me up to this point in the situation I am being able to be ready when guys are battling whatever they’re going through. So it’s definitely helped me in that aspect of the game.”
The Blade: Your three NFL touchdowns have been really tough catches and in pretty critical situations. How do you stay focused and ready in those moments?
Morris: “Really just kind of reiterating what our coaches are implementing in these critical situational football is something we emphasize every day. Coaches talk about and just the repetition of being here four years, seeing the guys that came before me in these situations, seeing film of other teams that might have been in this situation, and ultimately, just staying ready for when opportunities like that come in the game. That’s what keeps guys around. You never know when that opportunity will come. If it’s a play where I’ve got to block, I’ve got to block. If it’s a play where I’m running a route and the ball’s coming to me, I’ve got to be there to step up. If it’s a play that breaks down and you’ve just got to make a play and the game’s on the line, just got to be there. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a chance in those opportunities to show what I can do and make plays for my team. But I don’t really like to think of it as stepping up. It’s just really doing my job at the end of the day.”
Quintin Morris brings his pass catching ability from Texas. #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/GwHC4pkhep
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) February 1, 2017
The Blade: Being from Texas, what has it been like for you playing in these cold and snowy environments like Buffalo and Bowling Green?
Morris: “It’s definitely been crazy, right? Obviously, going all the way south to the north and having to deal with the winds and the snow and everything. But at the end of the day, football is football. I think honestly, the weather isn’t as big of a factor. Yeah, of course if your gloves are wet and stuff like that, that’s one thing. But as far as the weather, once you’re moving around out there playing football, honestly, in my case, I really don’t feel like I feel the cold too much unless you’re just standing around on the bench maybe when the defense is taking the field. But again, they’ve got so many things now with heaters on the sideline, hot chocolate, soup, and seat warmers, jackets. These guys really take care of us here, so it’s really not as big of an issue.”
Congrats to Quintin Morris on his first career TD! #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/a6qlbcrZ7z
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) October 21, 2017
The Blade: Looking back at your Bowling Green career, it was really productive for you. What are you most grateful for from your time as a Falcon?
Morris: “I’d say I’m probably most grateful for really just kind of embracing that change of moving to an unfamiliar position. Familiar in some ways, but taking that leap of faith and trusting my coaches with [Loeffler] that was there, [Louie] Addazio, that was the tight end coach, and [former tight ends coach Chris] Hedden and those guys, whenever I decided to finally make the switch to tight end, and I’m grateful for the coaches that came before. It’s been something that’s always been put in my ear, just being a bigger body receiver and being able to hold the weight and still be able to move and still have that physicality to be able to block and stuff. But really just embracing that change to play tight end and get in there and get physical, being able to mentally just soak in all the knowledge. So I’m really just grateful for the coaches that took the time to work with me and then at the same time, kind of grateful I took that leap of faith to just trust the process.”
The Blade: BGSU’s had a couple other great tight ends recently in Christian Sims and Harold Fannin, Jr. How valuable is that tight end position under Loeffler?
Morris: “It’s been really valuable. I’m grateful for all the things he’s taught me and I’ve learned with being in his offense, kind of that pro-style offense that features a lot of tight end plays and stuff. But really just watching some of these guys over time, and with Harold Fannin, he’s having an unbelievable year. I’ve been watching him, I reached out to him and told him he’s been doing good, basically keep it up. He doesn’t really need me to tell him anything. He’s the truth and having a crazy season. I’ve been a fan of watching him, and I’m excited to see what next steps he takes at the next level. If he needs any information from me, I’ll be happy to help. But definitely happy to see him have a lot more success than I’ve had really just coming in at that tight end position.”
First Published December 8, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
