Nicholas Morrow wasn't an All-State football player at Huntsville High School, although the Panthers went to the ASHSAA playoffs in each of his varsity seasons. He didn't have college recruiters hounding him for a verbal commitment, and he went to NCAA Division III Greenville.
Now, with the NFL set to kick off its 2017 season on Thursday night, Morrow is a member of the Oakland Raiders.
He's one of three undrafted rookies with Alabama football roots to hold a spot on an NFL active roster on the day of the season-opening game. As an illustration of the volatility of NFL rosters: There were three undrafted rookies from Alabama on active rosters after teams announced their cuts to reduce the 90-player preseason rosters to the regular-season limit of 53 on Saturday, they just weren't the same three.
On Wednesday, the Houston Texans waived cornerback Dee Virgin after the former West Alabama standout made the "final" cut on Saturday. On the other hand, former Eufaula High School star Xavier Woodson-Luster was released by the Raiders on Saturday, but Oakland has since re-signed the undrafted linebacker.
The other undrafted rookie from the state is Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaylen Hill, who played at Jacksonville State.
The four undrafted rookies are among the 111 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on NFL active rosters entering the regular season. There are another 14 on NFL practice squads, 10 on injured reserve and three on non-football injury/illness reserve.
The state has more defensive than offensive players in the NFL at 63-46 (with two specialists).
There are 18 linebackers, 16 cornerbacks, 12 defensive tackles, 12 wide receivers, 11 running backs, 11 safeties, six defensive ends, six guards, five quarterbacks, four offensive tackles, three centers, three tight ends, two fullbacks, one long snapper and one place-kicker among the state's contingent.
By college, there are 39 players from Alabama, 23 from Auburn, five from UAB, four from West Alabama, three apiece from Samford and Troy, two from Alabama State and one each from Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, North Alabama, South Alabama and Stillman.
Morrow developed into an NFL prospect at Greenville University and become the first player from the Greenville, Illinois, school to sign an NFL contract.
Morrow had been an offensive lineman until his senior year in high school, when he moved out to tight end to go with his linebacker duties.
At Greenville, he played safety and was the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's Most Valuable Defensive Player for the 2016 season. He became Greenville's first All-American when he earned second-team recognition in the American Football Coaches Association's Division III selections.
"The guy shows up when the lights come on," Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said of Morrow. "Nothing is too big for him. Really good on special teams. So we like where he is."
Morrow isn't resting after clearing the 90-to-53 hurdle.
"I haven't played my best football yet," Morrow said. "I can see that when I watch the film and listen to the coaches."
Oakland will kick off its season against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Morrow is listed as the Raiders' second-team weakside linebacker.
Morrow is one of six state players on the Raiders' roster. The Cincinnati Bengals have the most players with Alabama roots on their active roster with eight.
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The players from Alabama high schools and colleges on NFL rosters, arranged by team:
Arizona Cardinals: Josh Bynes, linebacker, Auburn; Karlos Dansby, inside linebacker, Woodlawn, Auburn; Rudy Ford, cornerback, New Hope, Auburn; J.J. Nelson, wide receiver, Midfield, UAB. Injured reserve: Ed Stinson, defensive tackle, Alabama.
Atlanta Falcons: Josh Harris, long snapper, Auburn; Julio Jones, wide receiver, Foley, Alabama; Courtney Upshaw, defensive end, Eufaula, Alabama.
Baltimore Ravens: Jaylen Hill, cornerback, Jacksonville State; Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Hoover, Alabama; C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker, Theodore, Alabama; Michael Pierce, defensive tackle, Daphne, Samford; Za'Darius Smith, outside linebacker, Greenville; Lardarius Webb, defensive back, Beauregard; Tim Williams, outside linebacker, Alabama.
Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, defensive tackle, Huffman, Alabama; Trae Elston, safety, Oxford; Deon Lacy, linebacker, Hueytown, West Alabama; Jordan Matthews, wide receiver, Madison Academy; Joe Webb, quarterback, Wenonah, UAB. Practice squad: Eric Lee, outside linebacker, Daphne.
Carolina Panthers: Mario Addison, defensive end, Tarrant, Troy; Cameron Artis-Payne, running back, Auburn; James Bradberry, cornerback, Pleasant Grove, Samford; Captain Munnerlyn, cornerback, Murphy; Cam Newton, quarterback, Auburn. Practice squad: Blaine Clausell, offensive tackle, Baker.
Chicago Bears: Jordan Howard, running back, Gardendale, UAB; Eddie Jackson, safety, Alabama. Practice squad: Brandon Greene, guard, Alabama.
Cincinnati Bengals: Cody Core, wide receiver, Auburn High; Michael Johnson, defensive end, Dallas County; Dre Kirkpatrick, cornerback, Gadsden City, Alabama; Carl Lawson, outside linebacker, Auburn; AJ McCarron, quarterback, St. Paul's, Alabama; Pat Sims, defensive tackle, Auburn; Andre Smith, guard, Huffman, Alabama; C.J. Uzomah, tight end, Auburn.
Cleveland Browns: Sammie Coates, wide receiver, Leroy, Auburn; Shon Coleman, offensive tackle, Auburn; Isaiah Crowell, running back, Alabama State; Ricardo Louis, wide receiver, Auburn. Injured reserve: Matt McCants, offensive lineman, Williamson, UAB.
Dallas Cowboys: None. Practice squad: Marquez White, cornerback, Northview.
Denver Broncos: Darian Stewart, safety, Lee-Huntsville.
Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah, running back, Homewood; A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle, Alabama; Greg Robinson, offensive tackle, Auburn. Practice squad: Rolan Milligan, safety, UAB.
Green Bay Packers: Montravius Adams, defensive tackle, Auburn; Quinton Dial, defensive tackle, Clay-Chalkville, Alabama; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, safety, Alabama; LaDarius Gunter, cornerback, Jeff Davis. Practice squad: Jermaine Whitehead, safety, Auburn.
Houston Texans: Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker, Pinson Valley; Kareem Jackson, cornerback, Alabama; Jay Prosch, fullback, UMS-Wright, Auburn. Practice squad: Chad Slade, guard, Moody, Auburn.
Indianapolis Colts: Quan Bray, wide receiver, Auburn; T.J. Green, safety, Sylacauga; Ryan Kelly, center, Alabama; Chester Rogers, wide receiver, Lee-Huntsville.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Corey Grant, running back, Opelika, Auburn; Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Alabama; T.J. Yeldon, running back, Daphne, Alabama. Injured reserve: Carson Tinker, long snapper, Alabama.
Kansas City Chiefs: Dee Ford, outside linebacker, St. Clair County, Auburn; Tyreek Hill, wide receiver, West Alabama; Rakeem Nunez-Roches, defensive lineman, Central-Phenix City; Reggie Ragland, linebacker, Bob Jones, Alabama. Practice squad: Gehrig Dieter, wide receiver, Alabama. Injured reserve: Jacoby Glenn, cornerback, Vigor.
Los Angeles Chargers: Darius Philon, defensive tackle, Vigor; Philip Rivers, quarterback, Athens; Damion Square, defensive tackle, Alabama. Practice squad: Braedon Bowman, tight end, South Alabama. Injured reserve: Chris Landrum, defensive end, Sweet Water, Jacksonville State.
Los Angeles Rams: Mark Barron, linebacker, St. Paul's, Alabama; Blake Countess, defensive back, Auburn; Gerald Everett, tight end, UAB/South Alabama. Practice squad: Cassanova McKinzy, linebacker, Woodlawn, Auburn.
Miami Dolphins: Kenyan Drake, running back, Alabama; Bobby McCain, cornerback, Oxford; Cody Parkey, place-kicker, Auburn; Anthony Steen, center/guard, Alabama. Practice squad: Gabe Wright, defensive tackle, Auburn.
Minnesota Vikings: None.
New England Patriots: Malcolm Butler, cornerback, West Alabama; Trey Flowers, defensive end, Columbia; Dont'a Hightower, linebacker, Alabama; Jonathan Jones, cornerback, Auburn; Brandon King, safety, Thompson, Auburn. Practice squad: Angelo Blackson, defensive end, Auburn. Injured reserve: Cyrus Jones, cornerback, Alabama. Reserve/non-football illness: Antonio Garcia, offensive tackle, Troy.
New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram, running back, Alabama. Reserve/non-football illness: Nick Fairley, defensive tackle, Williamson, Auburn. Reserve/non-football injury: Devaroe Lawrence, defensive tackle, Auburn.
New York Giants: Landon Collins, safety, Alabama; D.J. Fluker, guard, Foley, Alabama; Janoris Jenkins, cornerback, North Alabama; Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle, Alabama. Injured reserve: Kevin Norwood, wide receiver, Alabama.
New York Jets: James Carpenter, guard, Alabama; Steve McLendon, defensive tackle, Carroll-Ozark, Troy; ArDarius Stewart, wide receiver, Fultondale, Alabama. Injured reserve: Corey Lemonier, outside linebacker, Auburn.
Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama; Rodney Hudson, center, B.C. Rain; Nicholas Morrow, outside linebacker, Huntsville; Seth Roberts, wide receiver, West Alabama; Jylan Ware, offensive tackle, Valley, Alabama State; Xavier Woodson-Luster, linebacker, Eufaula.
Philadelphia Eagles: Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Hubbard, guard, UAB. Practice squad: Justin Thomas, wide receiver, Prattville.
San Francisco 49ers: Reuben Foster, linebacker, Auburn High, Alabama; Jaquiski Tartt, safety, Davidson, Samford; Jimmie Ward, defensive back, Davidson. Practice squad: Nick Mullens, quarterback, Spain Park. Injured reserve: Don Jones, safety, Hazlewood.
Seattle Seahawks: Eddie Lacy, running back, Alabama; J.D. McKissic, running back, Central-Phenix City; Jarran Reed, defensive tackle, Alabama; Neiko Thorpe, cornerback, Auburn.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kwon Alexander, middle linebacker, Oxford; Peyton Barber, running back, Auburn; O.J. Howard, tight end, Autauga Academy, Alabama; Jameis Winston, quarterback, Hueytown. Injured reserve: DaVonte Lambert, defensive tackle, Auburn.
Tennessee Titans: Daren Bates, linebacker, Auburn; Jalston Fowler, fullback, Vigor, Alabama; Derrick Henry, running back, Alabama; Ben Jones, center, Bibb County; Kalan Reed, cornerback, Briarwood Christian; Brynden Trawick, safety, Troy.
Washington Redskins: Jonathan Allen, defensive lineman, Alabama; Ryan Anderson, outside linebacker, Daphne, Alabama; Junior Galette, outside linebacker, Stillman; Joshua Holsey, cornerback, Auburn; Anthony Lanier, defensive lineman, Alabama A&M.