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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Notre Dame‘s trend of significant injuries has continued as cornerback Benjamin Morrison, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury.
Coach Marcus Freeman said Morrison, a junior who has started throughout his career, will need hip surgery after sustaining the injury in Saturday’s 49-7 win against Stanford. Morrison had 20 tackles and four pass breakups in six starts this season.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Morrison led Notre Dame and finished seventh nationally with six interceptions as a true freshman in 2022. His interceptions total marked the most for a Notre Dame defender since Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te’o in 2012. Morrison, son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison, led Notre Dame with 10 pass breakups and finished second with three interceptions in 2023, when he was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award.
“Obviously, it’s a blow to our team,” Freeman said. “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.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper lists Morrison at No. 20 on his Big Board for the 2025 NFL draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller ranked Morrison as his No. 2 draft-eligible cornerback, behind Michigan’s Will Johnson.
Freeman said Notre Dame is “obviously thin with some injuries” and will lean on freshmen Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs opposite Christian Gray at cornerback. Jordan Clark, Notre Dame’s starting nickelback, also could see time at Morrison’s spot.
“I’m very confident in the room,” Freeman said.
Notre Dame has endured a series of season-ending injuries, which include to defensive linemen Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho, and offensive linemen Ashton Craig and Charles Jagusah. The 12th-ranked Irish face Georgia Tech this week at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Freeman said wide receiver Jordan Faison is not 100 percent but will be available for Georgia Tech.