Daune Morris is trying to keep a level head.
It's hard to do after repeat career performances, but the Tennessee football running back won't allow himself too many pats on the back.
In an already depleted running back room, Morris, a sophomore, stepped up big for the No. 14 Vols (3-0) in their 42-9 win over Kennesaw State (1-2) on Sept. 19 at Neyland Stadium.
It was a clean sweep in nonconference play for Tennessee before hosting No. 1 Texas (3-0) on Sept. 26 (noon ET, ABC).
"It's been a great two weeks," said Morris, who played at Murfreesboro Oakland. "The prep and doing my job has been the main focus. I've not been too overhead about what I've produced or anything I've done on the field. Just being able to correct my wrongs and go into more details
on my alignment, assignment and details."
Against Georgia Tech on Sept. 12, Morris had 10 carries for a career-high 95 yards and a touchdown. He followed it up with 14 carries, 116 yards and another touchdown.
"It was more than just one moment," said coach Josh Heupel. "He had 14 carries, You guys have seen that from him. We've got great trust in him. He's grown so much in understand playing without the ball, and then growing inside of it on the run game. Understanding the flow and delivery of blocks, making really good cuts and playing with really good pad level at the end. He finished his runs extremely well tonight."
Coming into the game, Morris was the clear second option behind preseason All-SEC running back DeSean Bishop. Tulane transfer Javin Gordon, Morris' main competition for the No. 2 role, sat with a leg injury he suffered against Georgia Tech. Justin Baker was also injured against the Yellow Jackets.
In the second quarter against the Owls, Bishop went down, grabbing his left hip, though he later returned in the third quarter. During his absence, Morris had eight carries for 73 yards, including a 42-yard breakaway touchdown run.
Heupel never declared Morris as the second option going forward. He opted to commend the entire running back room instead, which also featured fifth-year senior Hunter Barnes. He turned in seven carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
"Running backs, you guys always get caught up in who the starter is," Heupel said. "People do. At the end of the day, you're going to need everybody in that room. Daune played extremely well tonight. ... Fully confident in him. Fully confident in Baker. Hunter Barnes goes in there and plays extremely well tonight. Those guys are smart. They care. They're selfless."
The ground game has been Tennessee's brightest spot early in the season. Through two games, the Vols ranked sixth in the country with an average of 314 rushing yards per game. That number will take a slight dip with only 268 against Kennesaw State. They'll need another stellar performance to upset Texas.
Morris will keep his same approach.
"I mean, when your number is called, be ready," he said.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Josh Heupel was 'fully confident' in Tennessee football RB Daune Morris
