<span> <span style="">THOMAS MORSTEAD</span>
<span style="">PunterlPlacekicker</span>
<span style="">Southern Methodist University Mustangs</span>
<span style="">#15</span>
<span style="">6:04.2-225</span>
<span style="">Pearland, Texas</span>
<span style="">Pearland High School</span>
OVERVIEW
Morstead might not have gotten the media attention of other kicking specialists, but professional teams are certainly aware of his ability. Few specialists have the ability to be equally effective in multiple roles, but the SMU Mustang has proven that no task is too daunting.
Morstead did not begin kicking for the Mustangs until the 2006 season, but he ranks fifth in school history with 217 points scored, just behind some of the program's elite players in football annals - Doak Walker, Eric Dickerson, Eddie Garcia and Reggie Dupard. His 78 consecutive PATs set a school record and his 2007 extra point percentage of 100.0 is a Conference USA mark. He ranks second on the league game-record chart with a 55.6-yard average punting vs. North Texas in 2007 and his 43.4-yard career average is good for third in C-USA annals.
At Pearland High School, Morstead received second-team All-District honors and was named Brazoria County Special Teams MVP as a senior, handling all kicking chores. He also lettered in soccer and was a member of the National Honor Society, adding Academic All-State honors.
Morstead decided to enroll at Southern Methodist in 2004, turning down scholarship offers from Texas Christian, Rice, Texas and Missouri, but spent the season as a redshirt. He was a member of the Conference U SA's Academic Honor Roll in 2005, but never appeared in a game.
Morstead took over place-kicking and punting chores in 2006, earning All-Conference USA third-team honors. He led the league and ranked 15th in the nation in punting, averaging 43.82 yards on 50 attempts, the best average by an SMU punter since Craig James averaged 44.9 yards in 1982. He made 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points for a total of 73 points, as he also recorded one solo tackle.
As a sophomore Morstead was a consensus All-Conference USA first-team pick and also gained league academic honors. He again led C-USA and finished eighth nationally with a 44.65-yard average, as the Mustangs also ranked fourth in the NCAA with a 39.33-yard net average. He scored 82 points and set the league season-record by making all 43 PAT attempts, as he also connected on 13 of 20 field goals.
Morstead concentrated more on directional punting in 2008. The All-Conference USA honorable mention averaged a career-low 41.78 yards on 59 punts, but only 19 were returned, as the Mustangs placed third in the league with a 37.22-yard net average. He made 11 of 15 field goals, 29 of 30 extra points and amassed 62 points.
CAREER NOTES
Morstead punted 166 times for 7,201 yards (43.38 avg) with 11 touchbacks, 58 attempts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 23 other boots that the opposition called for fair catches... His 43.38-yard average rank third in school history behind Eric Kaifes (43.9 avg, 1980-81) and Craig James (43.6 avg, 1981-82) and placed sixth on the Conference USA alltime record chart. His 44.65-yard average in 2007 rank third on the SMU season-record list, topped by Craig James (44.9 avg in 1982) and David Sherer (45.0 avg in 1957) and tied for fifth on the C-USA record book... His 55.6-yard punting average vs. North Texas in 2007 rank second on the league game-record list behind Ryan Dougherty of East Carolina (55.7 avg vs. Virginia Tech in 2006)...Made 106 of 108 PATS, second in school history behind Eddie Garcia (136 points, 1978-81)... His 43 extra points made in 2007 topped the previous SMU annual record of 40 by Jeff Harrell in 1982... His 217 points kicking is good for 13th in C-USA history and fifth overall in school annals behind Doak Walker (288, 1945,47-49), Eric Dickerson (288, 1979-82), Eddie Garcia (262,1978-81) and Reggie Dupard (258,1982-85).
2008 SEASON
Earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors...Named to the College Football Top Ten & Pegasus News AIl-DFW College Football Team... Ranked fifth in the league and 33rd nationally with 59 punts for 2,465 yards (41.78 avg), as he had six touchbacks, ten kicks that the opposition called for fair catches and 20 that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Only 19 of his punts were returned for 209 yards (11.0 avg)... Made 11 of 15 field goals and 29 of 30 PATs for 62 points... Also recorded a pair of tackles and carried once on a fake punt for a 34-yard gain vs. Tulane.
2007 SEASON
All-Conference USA first-team selection... Led the league and ranked eighth in the nation with a 44.65-yard average on 57 punts, good for 2,545 yards... Had four touchbacks, seven kicks that the opposition called for fair catches and 21 attempts that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Made 13 of 20 field goals and set the C-USA and school season-record with 43 consecutive extra points, finishing with a career-high 82 points.
2006 SEASON
All-Conference USA third-team choice in his first varsity season...Academic AI-C-USA pick and recipient of SMU's Special Teams Award... Led the league and ranked 15th in the nation in punting, averaging 43.82 yards on 50 attempts for 2,191 yards, as he had four touchbacks, six fair catches and 18 kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Scored 73 points on 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra point attempts... Also recorded a solo tackle.
2005 SEASON
Member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2004 SEASON
Red-shirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.83 in the 40-yard dash...1.63 10-yard dash...2.81 20-yard dash...32 3/4-inch arm length...9 1/8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Pearland (Tex.) High School... Received second-team All-District honors and was named Brazoria County Special Teams MVP as a senior, handling all kicking chores... Also lettered in soccer and was a member of the National Honor Society, adding Academic All-State honors.
PERSONAL
Mechanical Engineering major... Son of Isobel and John Morstead...Resides in Pearland, Texas.
<span> <span style="">THOMAS MORSTEAD</span>
<span style="">PunterlPlacekicker</span>
<span style="">Southern Methodist University Mustangs</span>
<span style="">#15</span>
<span style="">6:04.2-225</span>
<span style="">Pearland, Texas</span>
<span style="">Pearland High School</span>
OVERVIEW
Morstead might not have gotten the media attention of other kicking specialists, but professional teams are certainly aware of his ability. Few specialists have the ability to be equally effective in multiple roles, but the SMU Mustang has proven that no task is too daunting.
Morstead did not begin kicking for the Mustangs until the 2006 season, but he ranks fifth in school history with 217 points scored, just behind some of the program's elite players in football annals - Doak Walker, Eric Dickerson, Eddie Garcia and Reggie Dupard. His 78 consecutive PATs set a school record and his 2007 extra point percentage of 100.0 is a Conference USA mark. He ranks second on the league game-record chart with a 55.6-yard average punting vs. North Texas in 2007 and his 43.4-yard career average is good for third in C-USA annals.
At Pearland High School, Morstead received second-team All-District honors and was named Brazoria County Special Teams MVP as a senior, handling all kicking chores. He also lettered in soccer and was a member of the National Honor Society, adding Academic All-State honors.
Morstead decided to enroll at Southern Methodist in 2004, turning down scholarship offers from Texas Christian, Rice, Texas and Missouri, but spent the season as a redshirt. He was a member of the Conference U SA's Academic Honor Roll in 2005, but never appeared in a game.
Morstead took over place-kicking and punting chores in 2006, earning All-Conference USA third-team honors. He led the league and ranked 15th in the nation in punting, averaging 43.82 yards on 50 attempts, the best average by an SMU punter since Craig James averaged 44.9 yards in 1982. He made 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points for a total of 73 points, as he also recorded one solo tackle.
As a sophomore Morstead was a consensus All-Conference USA first-team pick and also gained league academic honors. He again led C-USA and finished eighth nationally with a 44.65-yard average, as the Mustangs also ranked fourth in the NCAA with a 39.33-yard net average. He scored 82 points and set the league season-record by making all 43 PAT attempts, as he also connected on 13 of 20 field goals.
Morstead concentrated more on directional punting in 2008. The All-Conference USA honorable mention averaged a career-low 41.78 yards on 59 punts, but only 19 were returned, as the Mustangs placed third in the league with a 37.22-yard net average. He made 11 of 15 field goals, 29 of 30 extra points and amassed 62 points.
CAREER NOTES
Morstead punted 166 times for 7,201 yards (43.38 avg) with 11 touchbacks, 58 attempts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 23 other boots that the opposition called for fair catches... His 43.38-yard average rank third in school history behind Eric Kaifes (43.9 avg, 1980-81) and Craig James (43.6 avg, 1981-82) and placed sixth on the Conference USA alltime record chart. His 44.65-yard average in 2007 rank third on the SMU season-record list, topped by Craig James (44.9 avg in 1982) and David Sherer (45.0 avg in 1957) and tied for fifth on the C-USA record book... His 55.6-yard punting average vs. North Texas in 2007 rank second on the league game-record list behind Ryan Dougherty of East Carolina (55.7 avg vs. Virginia Tech in 2006)...Made 106 of 108 PATS, second in school history behind Eddie Garcia (136 points, 1978-81)... His 43 extra points made in 2007 topped the previous SMU annual record of 40 by Jeff Harrell in 1982... His 217 points kicking is good for 13th in C-USA history and fifth overall in school annals behind Doak Walker (288, 1945,47-49), Eric Dickerson (288, 1979-82), Eddie Garcia (262,1978-81) and Reggie Dupard (258,1982-85).
2008 SEASON
Earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors...Named to the College Football Top Ten & Pegasus News AIl-DFW College Football Team... Ranked fifth in the league and 33rd nationally with 59 punts for 2,465 yards (41.78 avg), as he had six touchbacks, ten kicks that the opposition called for fair catches and 20 that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Only 19 of his punts were returned for 209 yards (11.0 avg)... Made 11 of 15 field goals and 29 of 30 PATs for 62 points... Also recorded a pair of tackles and carried once on a fake punt for a 34-yard gain vs. Tulane.
2007 SEASON
All-Conference USA first-team selection... Led the league and ranked eighth in the nation with a 44.65-yard average on 57 punts, good for 2,545 yards... Had four touchbacks, seven kicks that the opposition called for fair catches and 21 attempts that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Made 13 of 20 field goals and set the C-USA and school season-record with 43 consecutive extra points, finishing with a career-high 82 points.
2006 SEASON
All-Conference USA third-team choice in his first varsity season...Academic AI-C-USA pick and recipient of SMU's Special Teams Award... Led the league and ranked 15th in the nation in punting, averaging 43.82 yards on 50 attempts for 2,191 yards, as he had four touchbacks, six fair catches and 18 kicks that were downed inside the 20-yard line... Scored 73 points on 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra point attempts... Also recorded a solo tackle.
2005 SEASON
Member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2004 SEASON
Red-shirted as a freshman.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.83 in the 40-yard dash...1.63 10-yard dash...2.81 20-yard dash...32 3/4-inch arm length...9 1/8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Pearland (Tex.) High School... Received second-team All-District honors and was named Brazoria County Special Teams MVP as a senior, handling all kicking chores... Also lettered in soccer and was a member of the National Honor Society, adding Academic All-State honors.
PERSONAL
Mechanical Engineering major... Son of Isobel and John Morstead...Resides in Pearland, Texas.
