Head Coach Marcus Freeman announced during his Monday press conference that the team will be without All-American cornerback, Benjamin Morrison, for the rest of the season with a hip injury. Morrison is the newest name on a long list of injuries for this Notre Dame squad.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Morrison, a team captain, has been a staple of this Notre Dame defense for the last three seasons. In those seasons, Morrison has made a name for himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the country.
In his first two seasons, Morrison recorded nine takeaways and has been a lockdown corner against some of the country's best wide receivers. In his experience defending former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr., he only allowed two combined receptions.
This season, Morrison has yet to give up a touchdown and has successfully defended more than half of the passes that come his way. Morrison has been the leader of a stifling secondary that has been able to hold opposing quarterbacks to an under 50% completion percentage.
Morrison is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, as he is regarded by many to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country. This means Notre Dame has likely seen the last of Morrison in a Notre Dame uniform.
Notre Dame's secondary depth will now be tested in a major way. This unit has already lost Jaden Mickey when HC Marcus Freeman announced his intention to redshirt for the remainder of the season before entering the portal. Now, with Morrison out, Notre Dame will look to the true freshman, Leonard Moore, to step up. This secondary will have a huge hole to fill with the loss of Morrison, but this unit has shown an ability to make plays and adapt, like the Louisville game where Christian Gray was inactive and Morrison missed several possessions.
It will now be up to Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden to prepare the secondary for their new responsibilities and to put them into the best position to succeed.
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