Courtney Morgan is quickly becoming a trending name in college football. The much-talked-about general manager recently followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama. Now, he’s making headlines for the hefty salary he’s set to earn in his new role.

On August 19, reports emerged that Alabama had secured Morgan with a groundbreaking deal, paying him $825,000 annually for three years. Now, this makes a total of $2.5 million. And is it worth it in a non-pro league? Well, CFB expert Josh Pate has some solid reasons it’s worth the bet.

On his August 20 Late Kick show, Pate made a strong case for why Morgan deserves this payday. His main point? “Because he controls the roster there. Roster is the beginning and the ending of the sport.” Well, that’s a compelling argument! But Pate didn’t stop with the one-liner. He provided three solid reasons to back it up.

First, “He knows Kalen DeBoer’s system inside out and he knows his way of doing things.” Second, he highlighted Morgan’s “relatability to players, that’s another reason to pay him that.” He has experience working with Jim Harbaugh as Michigan’s director of player personnel and has quite the reputation in college football’s front office. Lastly, Pate pointed out Morgan’s expertise in “roster retention and talent acquisition,” stating that he knows these markets inside and out. 

To further add weight to his argument, Pate also mentions how USC tried to hire Morgan, but he chose to stay with DeBoer’s team despite being a Los Angeles resident. All this shows that Courtney Morgan just deserves that pay!

Courtney Morgan is the answer for Alabama’s recruitment

Courtney Morgan’s $2.5 million contract is more than just a significant number — it proves why Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is still a major player in college football. Also, this deal could bump up the pay for GMs in college football.

In simple terms, general managers are the architects of the roster. They’re responsible for everything from scouting talents to negotiating their contracts. And Kalen DeBoer sure recognizes the importance of this role, which is why he brought Morgan, his former GM from Washington, to Tuscaloosa. DeBoer has also expressed strong confidence in Morgan’s abilities ever since. “Courtney is such an important part of our program,” he noted. “He has great relationships across the country and is essential in helping us recruit and evaluate talent both at the high school level and in the transfer portal.”

Now, the hype is entirely worth it! Despite Nick Saban’s absence, Morgan has strengthened Alabama’s recruiting efforts. He organized a Cold Summer Cookout this July to bring top talent to Tuscaloosa for a recruitment camp. He has also helped Alabama secure the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class while pushing them to the top of the SEC. And all these in the post-Saban era!