Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan lost his father to cancer earlier this offseason.

On Tuesday morning, he opened up about how his teammates and coaches have helped him through that loss.

“This is what my dad would want me to be doing right now,” Morgan said at Minnesota’s media day on Tuesday morning. “When you experience the family culture, it hits how deep it is. I’m really thankful for my teammates … they’re what gets me through this.”

Morgan’s dad was present throughout his Minnesota career — he even got interviewed by ESPN’s Holly Rowe on the field after a game in 2019:

Coach P.J. Fleck called Morgan the “heart beat of this team” when describing his leadership ability on Tuesday morning.

Morgan wrote a note about his father shortly after his passing back in July.

“Tonight my Dad entered where his true citizenship is at,” Tanner wrote in-part. “My dad was a great man who loves serving other people. He served the Lord with passion and loved us deeply.

“It may not have seemed like it, but the Lord’s favor was all over him throughout the entire journey. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want them, but he is still Good. He’s still for us. He draws near the broken-hearted. It might look dark, but God is and was near the entire time.”

Minnesota opens its 2021 campaign by hosting Ohio State on Sept. 2.