Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman announced on Monday that second-team preseason All-American cornerback and team captain Benjamin Morrison has been lost for the season due to an injured hip. The costly injury, suffered in Saturday’s 49-7 win over Stanford, will require surgery, causing the talented junior to miss the next six regular season games and the postseason.
“Obviously, it’s a blow to our team,” Freeman said, kicking off his Georgia Tech week press conference on Monday. “You lose a captain, great football player, and you feel terrible for the kid. He gives football, he gives preparation, everything he has. It’s just tough. He’s a tough kid, he’s been through this before and he’ll have surgery and get back to work to becoming the best version of Benjamin.”
Corner depth is already lacking for the Irish. Jaden Mickey’s recent decision to redshirt and transfer out of the program leaves Notre Dame thin at the position. Leonard Moore, a summer standout, will be the next man up in Morrison’s absence.
“Recruiting him, you understand he has the talent, he has the length, the skill set,” Freeman said of Moore. “He is a super-intelligent young man, but it still takes time to play fast in a new defense. He was a guy in fall camp that you said, ‘OK, he’s playing fast already.’ We knew he would help us this year. And at some point, if injuries happen, he would have to start for us. He’ll be ready. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Morrison: A Projected First-Round NFL Draft Pick
A projected first-round NFL Draft pick next year, Morrison might have played his final game in a Notre Dame uniform. The injury could change all of that if he elects to return for his senior season.
In March, Morrison underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, forcing him to miss most of spring practice and the Blue-Gold Game. In 2022, Morrison had six interceptions over the last five games, including two against Clemson. And in 2023, he had three picks and 10 breakups. Morrison, a son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison, led Notre Dame with 10 pass breakups and finished second on the team in interceptions with three in 2023. He was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award last year. This season, Morrison recorded 20 tackles, 14 solo. He had four tackles against Stanford.
Injury Woes for Notre Dame
Notre Dame has been hit hard with season-ending injuries. A total of five starters have been lost for the season. In addition to Morrison, the Irish have lost Jordan Botelho, Boubacar Traore, Charles Jagusah, and Ashton Craig.
