Chance Morrow waited for three seasons.
Sixteen receptions. Two touchdowns. Few opportunities to showcase the talent he believed he possessed.
Now, the fifth-year wide receiver is making his chances count, turning years of patience into a breakout campaign that has earned him national recognition and established him as one of the Bulls’ most productive offensive weapons.
But, the sudden attention hasn’t changed much.
“I was just being patient,” Morrow said. “I knew my time was coming sooner or later.”
Morrow opened the 2026 season with seven receptions and three touchdowns against Albany, becoming the first Buffalo receiver to score three receiving touchdowns in a game since Anthony Johnson accomplished the feat in 2018.
The performance marked the beginning of a season that has seen Morrow emerge as a focal point of Buffalo’s passing attack.
Still, he insists his approach hasn’t changed.
“I’ve just been on a mission myself,” Morrow said. “I was just in the perfect place, perfect time and just executed the play call when it was called.”
His greatest statistical performance came on Nov. 3 against Miami (Ohio), when he recorded 12 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo’s 34-31 overtime victory.
Among those receptions was a one-handed grab that earned the No.1 spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays on Nov. 4, putting Morrow’s athleticism on national display.
The spectacular catch was hardly unfamiliar territory.
“I made catches like that at practice here and there,” he said.
Morrow’s confidence traces back to childhood, with football already a family affair.
He credits his godbrother, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez “Tez” Walker, who helped spark his interest in the position. Morrow also idolized Pro Football Hall of Famer wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, whose combination of size, strength and athleticism made him one of the NFL’s most dominant pass catchers of all time.
While his childhood influences helped shape his ambitions, it was Morrow’s time at Buffalo that helped him develop further than just his physical abilities.
UB’s program has helped him become bigger, stronger and faster, while teaching him lessons about focus, relationships and how to treat others, says Morrow.
During the years playing time was scarce, Morrow’s faith held him together.
“Just trusting God for real, just putting everything in his hands,” Morrow said. Whenever my time came, I just had to show up.”
That mentality has carried into a season filled with changes.
Following an injury to quarterback Elijah Holmes, backup quarterback Jason Wright stepped up as the new starter. Despite the transition, Morrow said the chemistry built through offseason workouts helped the receiving corps adjust.
“We all threw with each other over the summer,” Morrow said.
The results have followed.
Against Miami (Ohio), Wright threw for 358 yards while Morrow accounted for more than half of Buffalo’s receiving production, helping the Bulls secure a conference victory in overtime.
Even with his growing profile, Morrow remains largely indifferent to individual publicity, saying that national recognition hasn’t changed his priorities.
“The media has never been one of my main objectives and never will be,” he said. “My main objective is to win games here and just focus on the team.”
But that’s not to say his ambitions are limited.
Morrow hopes to follow the path of former Buffalo teammates who have reached the NFL, including Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock — who Morrow considers one of his closest friends — and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Shaun Dolac.
Murdock, whom Morrow considers one of his closest friends, remains a regular source of encouragement as he speaks with him twice a week.
Watching former teammates reach the professional level has strengthened his belief that he can do the same.
“It really motivates me,” Morrow said, describing the influence of people around him who have already achieved that goal. “My main goal is to try to play at the next level, and whatever I got to do to get there, I’m going to do it.”
A receiver who spent much of his college career waiting for his chance, Morrow’s future now holds possibilities that once seemed distant.
It’s not the touchdowns, receiving yards or national highlights that Morrow wants people to remember about him. Rather, he wants them to remember personality, relationships and positive energy he brings to the locker room.
“Not only football, just the person I was,” Morrow said.
After three seasons of waiting to make his mark on the field, Morrow is determined to leave one beyond it.
Alyssa Ramos contributed to the reporting of this article.
Will Meyer is the senior sports editor and can be reached at will.meyer@ubspectrum.com.
