Early Life
Morton is a graduate of Campbell High School in Campbell, California, where he played football and baseball. As a pitcher he received offers from Major League Baseball teams to play in their minor league systems. As a quarterback he was voted Northern California high school athlete of the year and was selected to play in the annual California Shrine High School football game.
He would go on to play for the University of California under the direction of head coach and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Marv Levy and assistant coach and future NFL Hall of Famer Bill Walsh. He became a starter at quarterback since the sixth game of his sophomore season. Back then his nickname was "Big hummer" and his production dominated the Golden Bears offense output.
As a sophomore in 1962, he could only play in 5 games because of a knee injury, but still managed 905 passing yards, a 54% completion rate and 9 touchdowns. As a junior in 1963 he already owned most of Cal's all-time quarterback records.
In his 3 seasons as a starter he would never play on a winning team. His senior season in 1964 saw him complete 185 of 308 passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns, and even with a losing 3-7 record, he was recognized for his talent and contributions by being named first team All-America over other winning quarterbacks. He would also receive the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy, given to the best player on the Pacific Coast, and the Pop Warner Award, given to the best senior player.
He finished his career with 4,501 passing yards (a Pac-8 record), and most of Cal's all-time passing records, including:
- Touchdown passes in one game (5).
- Touchdown passes in a season (13).
- Touchdown passes in a career (36).
- Total yards in one game (285).
- Passing yards in a career (4,501).
- Passing yards in a season (2,121).
- Most passing completions and attempts in one game.
- Most passing completions and attempts in a season.
- Most passing completions and attempts in one game.
In 1964 as the starting quarterback for the West, he would face Roger Staubach in the East–West Shrine Game, which would be a sign of things to come.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: Craig Morton
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