Morrow's success is another example of patience and preparation

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College provides opportunities to learn.

Students learn life skills, critical thinking, time management, self-reliance and resilience, among other lessons.

However, patience can be the most difficult lesson to learn, especially for a big-time athlete who has never had to wait for opportunities.

A timeless adage — “good things come to those who wait” — has been proven over and over. Yet, it’s often hard to accept.

That’s the lesson Texas A&M freshman running back Jamarion Morrow has had to learn.

It’s a common lesson. For example, former A&M star running back De’Von Achane, who’s now playing in the NFL, waited behind Isaiah Spiller. Then, Le’Veon Moss waited behind Achane. Next, Rueben Owens II waited behind Moss.

The soft-spoken, hard-running Morrow has had to wait his turn. And as someone once sang, the waiting is the hardest part.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Jamarion Morrow’s first collegiate touchdown was a 22-yard receiving score vs. Florida.

“I think that was something I had to work on … being patient and just waiting for my turn,” Morrow said after practice on Tuesday. “Just being ready when your name is called.”

Morrow said his parents, as well as Moss and Owens, encouraged him to be patient.

“I have great parents,” Morrow said. They continued to tell me over and over again to just be ready. Your time will come, and it did.”

Mom and dad always know. His name has been called more and more frequently in recent games.

True to the old adage, good things happened.

Morrow caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in a 34-17 victory over Florida.

He picked up a key first down on third-and-1 to extend a scoring drive in a 45-42 victory over Arkansas.

Then, in a 49-25 victory over LSU, Morrow turned a screen pass into a 24-yard touchdown and spun out of a tackle to score on an 11-yard touchdown run.

He has been given more opportunities since Moss sustained an injury vs. Florida. He has taken advantage of that opportunity.

“I always believed I belong, but it felt good to prove it,” Morrow said. “Being able to play in some critical downs. It gave me a lot of confidence as far as doing it in the game, but like we practice so much and repping so much to the point. I kind of knew what to expect.”

The Aggies can expect more of the same from Morrow. They’ll likely need it, too.

A&M enters November ranked No. 3 in the nation and on the verge of clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff field.

But three SEC games remain. A&M travels to face a tough Missouri defense this weekend. Then, South Carolina comes to College Station. The Aggies close the regular season vs. archrival Texas.

Morrow will approach every week the same way he has all season. He’ll prepare to play, wait for his name to be called and produce when it is.

“You just have to stay focused throughout every day,” he said. “I don’t know how to explain it. You just have to continue to stay focused. You know your time is coming.”

It’s a lesson well learned.