Mekhi Morrison got his first experience in varsity football as a junior and finished the season as an All-Southern Connecticut Conference honoree. Now back for his senior year, Mekhi feels excited to play on the gridiron with his East Haven teammates, while demonstrating how much he’s grown on both sides of the ball.

When he was four years old, Mekhi started playing football with the New Haven Steelers at the Pop Warner level. Mekhi’s father Jemel first introduced him to the sport. Back then, Mekhi was worried about taking on larger competition. However, as he got more reps, Mekhi realized that there’s more to football than one’s physical stature and felt that it was a sport in which he could excel.

“My dad put me into it, and I just fell in love with it,” says Mekhi. “It was kind of scary at first. I was so small, and I was going against bigger kids. But once I learned size doesn’t matter, that’s when it became fun.”

Mekhi joined East Haven’s youth football program in 6th grade. However, in 7th grade, Mekhi broke his right femur and was sidelined for most of the next two seasons. It was a battle for Mekhi to get back on the field, but he knew that the journey was worth it, because football had become such a major part of his life.

“It was hard. It was a long road back. It took a lot of work to get back to being as good as I was,” Mekhi says. “Football means the most to me. It’s my life.”

Mekhi was back on the football field by the start of his freshman year at East Haven. He joined the Yellowjackets and competed for the JV team that season. Mekhi still wasn’t at his full potential, but he felt better and stronger with every snap that he got under his belt.

After his sophomore season was canceled, Mekhi returned to East Haven as a junior and earned his spot as a full-time varsity player. Mekhi noticed the increase in competition, but adjusted nicely throughout the year. He built up his mental strength and prepared himself to compete at a higher level. At the end of the season, Mekhi was selected to the All-SCC Tier 3 Team as a defensive lineman.

“Getting that meant a lot to me,” says Mekhi. “Me and my team played our hearts out last season. To win All-SCC was a big accomplishment for me.”

While he played on the defensive line last year, Mekhi is suiting up as an outside linebacker for the Easties in his senior season. Mekhi says that playing outside linebacker has been a positive experience and that he’s made nice strides at the position.

This isn’t the first time that Mekhi has changed positions in his football career. After growing up playing fullback, Mekhi was moved to the offensive line as a freshman. At first, it was a big change for Mekhi, who was used to running the ball. However, as he begins his senior year, Mekhi feels comfortable on the offensive line and is ready to battle it out on every snap.

Head Coach Scott Benoit has been impressed with Mekhi’s progression on both offense and defense during his time in the program. Benoit says that one of Mekhi’s greatest strengths is the leadership that he brings to the Easties in all arenas.

“Mekhi has grown as a player and a person,” Benoit says. “He has emerged as a team leader, and I am very proud of him.”

Mekhi wants to help the Yellowjackets win as many games as possible in his final campaign with the program. Mekhi loves playing for the East Haven football team and feels proud to be surrounded by his fellow Easties on Friday nights.

“It means a lot to me,” says Mekhi. “I’m playing out there on Friday nights with the boys.”