L ast season, Kelin Morris had little to be thankful for - on the football field.

Things have certainly changed for the Gaffney High cornerback.

As a junior, Morris played on the jayvee team and served as a backup on the varsity. This season, the 6-2, 190 pounder has blossomed into a shutdown corner and was the lone Indian selected to the prestigious Shrine Bowl.

Last offseason, Morris did everything to take full advantage of the openings on this year's defense.

"Last year, I felt that I should have played on the varsity, but I just tried to make the best of it," Morris said. "I worked hard in the offseason. I lifted weights and went to all of the passing leagues."

If hard work means anything, Morris should be enjoying a big year, said Gaffney defensive back coach Cameron Brooks.

"He had a great summer in the passing league and he worked very hard in the weight room," Brooks said. "He watches a lot of film and he's very coachable. In our scheme, our corners come up late on the run, but it's good to have somebody with his size. He hits like a linebacker."

Morris didn't play football as a sophomore, and it took Gaffney assistant coach Donnie Littlejohn to persuade the talented Morris to give football another try.

"He came to my house and told me that I should be playing," Morris said.

He returned to the team as a junior and made the switch to defensive back after playing wide receiver for most of his career.

"I switched during the preseason," he said. "(Coach) Marcus Bradley told me that I had the skills to play defensive back. He said I could be very good at it."

But even Bradley must be a little surprised that Morris would become this good, this fast. Morris has three interceptions, including a big pick of Willy Korn in the first matchup with Byrnes. He also had a game-high eight tackles in that game.

"I love playing cornerback now," he said. "It's the hardest position to play. But I like it because you can show your skills."

He plays left corner and is normally matched against the opponent's best wide receiver.

Not a problem since Morris insists he goes against the best wide receiver in the state each day in practice.

"I have to cover (Gaffney wideout) Tyson Petty in practice and that has made my skills better," he said. "I think Tyson is the best wide receiver in the state."

But it's Morris, not Petty, going to the Shrine Bowl.

"It was a shock," Morris said. "I didn't expect it since most people say that they judge you on what you do your junior and senior years. This year is the first year I've played a lot on the varsity.

"At first when (teammate) Terry Barnes told me that I made it, I thought he was joking. But then I went home and saw it on the Internet."

Morris also credits fellow cornerback Kendrick Tate with his fast development.

"He started last year and he's helped me a lot this year," he said.