Morice Blackwell expected to miss several weeks
Junior Texas linebacker Morice Blackwell is expected to miss several weeks with a knee injury, per a Facebook post by his mother.
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The information in the post was confirmed by a school spokesman.
“I have some bad news annnnnd some good news,” Blackwell’s mother Christine Trim-Blackwell wrote on Facebook. “The bad news is that Morice tore his MCL. The good news is that he will return in 2-4 weeks. Prayers are more than welcome from the ones that are sincere. It could have been worse but it’s all in God’s plan!!!! He will be back the 3rd game better than before!!!!!”
Blackwell, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound junior from Arlington (Texas) Martin, contended with senior David Gbenda and freshman Anthony Hill for the starting position at the Will/Dime linebacker position.
A veteran of 22 games with four starts, Blackwell has 14 career tackles including one tackle for loss. Blackwell also recorded a blocked punt versus Oklahoma State in the most recent campaign.
“Mo, obviously very versatile guy,” Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “The fact that, with a safety background, he has an ability to cover. I think he’s a good blitzer. He’s a violent player. When he goes, he goes. He’s violent at the point of contact. Definitely positives there.”
Morice Blackwell season outlook
Last spring, the Texas staff tried Blackwell out at safety. Spring is a time for experimentation, and though he provided a physical presence in the secondary, the lasting image of Blackwell’s time at defensive back was Isaiah Neyor running past him in the 2022 Orange-White Game.
He returned to linebacker, the position he was originally recruited for, and displayed a toughness and ability tailor-made for the Sam position during the 2022 season. Blackwell didn’t displace Jaylan Ford or DeMarvion Overshown at off-ball linebacker, but he played the Sam role well when the Longhorns were in their base defense.
During the spring of 2023, Steve Sarkisian noted Blackwell was at a weight similar to the one Overshown played at during his final season in Austin. Though listed at 208 pounds, Sarkisian said Blackwell was closer to 215 pounds in April. He also gave him lofty praise.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Sarkisian said. “I love the competitive nature of Mo. We asked a lot of him as a true freshman on special teams. He plays violent. He plays tough. I think he plays the way we want to play football, and he provides a lot of versatility.”
With Overshown now on the Dallas Cowboys, Blackwell is contending to succeed Agent Zero at the Will linebacker position. He’s competing with David Gbenda for snaps, but Blackwell is going play plenty no matter who the starter ends up being at that position. He’ll factor at both Will and Sam, and his versatility will be utilized often by Pete Kwiatkowski on conventional downs and Jeff Banks on special teams.
