Johnnie Morant
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Morant, Jr. is a Canadian football
wide receiver
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Syracuse
.
Morant has also been a member of the Toronto Argonauts
and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
.
and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, Morant graduated from Parsippany Hills High School
in 2000. After an outstanding senior campaign, Morant was rated the best receiver in the East and third best in the nation.
with 88 receptions for 1,535 yards (17.4 avg) and seven touchdowns, adding 524 yards on 22 kickoff returns (23.8 avg) and 35 yards with a score on six carries (5.8 avg) while appearing in 35 games. His 1,535 yards ranks 10th on the school's career-record list, while his 17.4-yard average ranks seventh. Morant also had a string of at least one reception in 29 consecutive games.
in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played three seasons for the team before being released on August 29, 2007.
He went on to play in four games for the Argonauts.
on February 6, 2009. He was released on June 20, 2009.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
.
Morant has also been a member of the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
.
Early years
Born in NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, Morant graduated from Parsippany Hills High School
Parsippany Hills High School
Parsippany Hills High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of two high schools in the township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade as part of the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District. Built in 1969, the school...
in 2000. After an outstanding senior campaign, Morant was rated the best receiver in the East and third best in the nation.
College career
He finished his career at Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
with 88 receptions for 1,535 yards (17.4 avg) and seven touchdowns, adding 524 yards on 22 kickoff returns (23.8 avg) and 35 yards with a score on six carries (5.8 avg) while appearing in 35 games. His 1,535 yards ranks 10th on the school's career-record list, while his 17.4-yard average ranks seventh. Morant also had a string of at least one reception in 29 consecutive games.
Oakland Raiders
Morant was selected by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played three seasons for the team before being released on August 29, 2007.
Toronto Argonauts
On June 22, 2008, Morant signed a practice roster agreement with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
He went on to play in four games for the Argonauts.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Morant was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on February 6, 2009. He was released on June 20, 2009.