Averett University Athletics

Anthony "Salem" Morris was a four-year standout on the Averett football program from 2001-04.

Morris, a native of Suffolk, Virginia, played defensive back and earned All-Conference First Team honors in 2003 and 2004 after making the Second Team in 2002. He also earned Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State First Team recognition in 2003 and 2004 and Roanoke Times All-State honors in 2004. Throughout his career, he was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week three times and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week twice. In the classroom, Morris also earned Academic All-Conference accolades.

Morris finished his career with 303 career tackles — 150 unassisted, 153 assisted — which still ranked among the top three marks in program history at the time of his induction. His career-high of 19 tackles came in a three-overtime win over Ferrum College in 2004 in which Morris had a key field goal block at the end of the first half and then made a big interception on a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth overtime. Morris holds the Averett program record with 12 career interceptions for a program-record 244 interception return yards and a shared record of two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Twice he had four interceptions in a single season (2003 and 2004). He also tallied three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 59 fumble return yards. Morris also finished his career with 25 pass breakups and four blocked kicks.

Following his collegiate career, Morris was invited to mini-camp with NFL's New York Giants. He also played arena football professionally for the Birmingham Steeldogs of the af2 in 2006 and the Mississippi Mudcats of the then-AIFA in 2007 before serving in the United States Air Force.

In 2013, Morris was selected to the USA South Conference's 50th Anniversary Team for football.

Morris was inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 2, 2021.