Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Morgan McCrary, MSU-N Football

Montana State University-Northern senior Morgan McCrary is ready to finish his last season as a Light with a bang. The standout safety has been grinding since day one of the fall camp.

McCrary started his college career at Arizona-Western as a walk-on but did not make the team. McCrary was then given an opportunity to come play for the Lights and he has become a staple for the MSU-N defense.

The dedication and effort that McCrary brings to the program is proof that he is a great example of breaking out at the collegiate level. McCrary gives it everything he has out on the field to make his team proud.

MSU-Northern head coach Andrew Rolin is glad to have a player like McCrary on the defense for the Lights.

"Morgan is another good kid that's been a good leader," said Rolin. "Throughout the summer he stayed all summer and he just goes to work every day; brings his lunch pail and he's gotten better throughout the two years that we've had him in it. You know he's another guy that you can trust is going to be in the right place at the right time and do the right thing, so we really enjoy having him on the team. He's another senior that will be missed after this year."

McCrary's work out on the field has proved to be great for the Lights. As of this week, McCrary has totaled seven solo tackles, 10 assists, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and one pass break. McCrary racked up five tackles against Eastern Oregon last week, which was a season high.

McCrary will look to use his skills this week against Rocky Mountain College to help the defense try to contain the Battlin' Bears offense.

"My mindset is to be as prepared as I can be," said McCrary. "Just keep doing what I can do and keep doing everything I've prepared for. I've worked hard and I feel like by just watching the film, which I always do, I'll be ready when the game comes. I could see things ahead of time and when I do that, then I'm able to just react, use my peer athleticism to go and make a play whenever it's time to do so."

With McCrary helping out the Lights' defense, the team will have a lot to look forward to Saturday. MSU-Northern will kick off against Rocky Mountain College Saturday at 1 at Blue Pony Stadium.

But, before the Lights face off against the Frontier Conference opponent, Havre Daily News caught up with the standout safety for five questions.

HDN: What is your favorite thing about the game of football?

McCrary: "Honestlym since I've been playing, my favorite thing is probably the brotherhood that you build within the team. You just really learn to play for one another. You learn about it for the coaches, the culture and the town does everything it does. That's the best thing about it."

HDN: What or who has been a big motivation for you in your career at Northern?

McCrary: "My family for sure, hands down, just because they've always been supportive of my dreams. They know how bad I wanted to play and you know since I've been playing they've always been the people by my side. A lot of people have doubted or, you know, said bad things and like I won't be able to play. I want to be able to do that and they've always stayed by my side, so my family for sure."

HDN: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

McCrary: "Just be the best player I could be, not to let my teammates down and do my job to my full potential. Just bring wins to this community because I know they want it. The town's big and big on us. They want us to see us win. This new coaching staff, they're doing everything in their power to make us. We just have to capitalize on the team as individuals, do our jobs every play, stay consistent and we'll get wins."

HDN: What are your hobbies outside of football?

McCrary: "I'm pretty laid back. I listen to music. I like to hang with my friends. Since I've been here in Montana, I like to go outdoors and go to the lake, do stuff like that. Fishing is not bad. I would say working out. Football is almost my life, honestly, so I feel like I'm always doing a lot of things football related."

HDN: What is your favorite part about playing the safety position?

McCrary: "They've had me playing a few different safety positions of box safety and also free roamer. I would say that my favorite thing is probably the play recognition, getting that read and then coming downhill, making a play whether it's taken on pulling guard or just seeing the gap open up and shooting a gap and making a big play in the backfield. There's nothing better than being ahead of the game and knowing your assignment, coming untouched and getting somebody."