Wingate University football had one of the saltiest defenses in all of Division II a year ago, riding its stopping unit to 11 wins and a trip to the Elite Eight.
The Bulldogs ranked second in the nation in total defense (227.6 yards per game), third in scoring defense (12.71 points per game) and 11th in pass defense (157.2 ypg).
Two of the standouts who made that defense go, Tre Morrison and Marquise Fleming, are back for another ride this fall. Both earned first-team all-South Atlantic Conference standing in 2022, and both have been mentioned on preseason D2 All-America teams over the summer.
Here are some Preseason Watch List facts about each player. Wingate opens fall camp within the week, and the new season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 31 at home against Albany State.
#4 Tre Morrison, cornerback
Class: Redshirt Senior
Measurables: 6-2/185 pounds
Hometown: Moncks Corner, SC
High School: Berkeley HS
Notes: Earned All-America recognition from three different outlets a year ago. Was first-team All-America from the Associated Press and second-team from both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) … Recognized as a finalist for the Cliff Harris award, presented to the nation’s top small-college defensive player …
Named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list in the preseason … Tabbed a first-team All-America pick at defensive back from The College Football Network …
Broke up at least one pass in every game in 2022, finishing with 22 total for the season (best in the nation) … Intercepted five passes, ranking 10th nationally in that category …
Defenses through the season never seemed to learn to stay away from Morrison: His first interception of the year came in the win at Fayetteville State, while adding an interception in the Tusculum win. He also had a 66-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the victory over the Pioneers.
Morrison had three pass break-ups against Emory & Henry, while notching the game-winning interception in overtime at Limestone. He had an interception and three break-ups in the UVA Wise victory, while notching three more break-ups in the play-off win at Virginia Union. Morrison also had an interception in the play-off win at Benedict …
Morrison’s high school coach, Randy Robinson, in a feature that ran on Morrison last September in the Berkeley Independent: “There’s his God-given talent and he’s a high-character guy. He’s a great kid and a great player … He was always so instinctive. We did so many things with him because he was so smart. We tried to get him around the ball because we knew he was going to make a play. He made a lot of plays for us.”
#24 Marquise Fleming, defensive end
Class: Redshirt Junior
Measurables: 6-1/230 pounds
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
High School: Olympic HS
Notes: Named second-team preseason All-American for Division II by Lindy’s Sports and CFB Network …
Teamed with 2022 conference and region defensive player of the year DJ Horne to terrorize opposing offensive lines. Earned second-team All-Region a year ago as voted on by D2 CCA and first-team All-South Atlantic Conference …
Spent a lot of time in opposing backfields, finishing the 2022 season ranked 11th in the nation in sacks (13) and 13th in tackles for loss (22.5). Those behind-the-line-of-scrimmage hits amassed 140 negative yards … Also had 14 quarterback hurries and a pair of pass break-ups …
Had three sacks in wins over Tusculum and UVA Wise …
Listed as a finance major with a management minor.
More Division II Headlines From NC Football News:
- D2 Football: Wingate football moves into national rankings
Bulldogs also have clinched spot in SAC title game - Week 10 Stat Champs: Louisburg DB returns interception for 106-yard TD
Tycorien Gist now has longest scoring play of the season in the Old North State - North Carolina’s College Football Saturday Shakes Up Title Races, Shatters Records
The old guard knocked off the upstart in one game, while the challenger defeated the reigning champ in another. A backup QB shined when given his moment. A team defended BBQ bragging rights for our state, while another broke the state’s “high score” for the season. These highlights and more made Week 10 of college… Read more: North Carolina’s College Football Saturday Shakes Up Title Races, Shatters Records - UNC Pembroke sets new ‘high score’ in 79-20 rout of WV Wesleyan
Braves’ offense explodes for 594 yards and shatters school records on American Indian Heritage Day - CIAA Recaps: Fayetteville State silences Bulls; Shaw rallies past Livingstone
Broncos blank Johnson C. Smith 27-0 to end Bulls’ perfect season
