Notre Dame’s football team has been hit by another major injury, as star cornerback Benjamin Morrison will miss the rest of the season due to a hip injury. Morrison, a junior and projected first-round NFL draft pick, needs surgery following an injury sustained in the team’s dominant 49-7 win over Stanford. The loss of Morrison, a consistent starter throughout his collegiate career, is a significant blow to the team. In the six games he played this season, Morrison recorded 20 tackles and four pass breakups.
Morrison has been a standout for Notre Dame since his freshman year. In 2022, he led the team with six interceptions, ranking seventh nationally and marking the most interceptions by a Notre Dame defender since Manti Te’o in 2012. His sophomore season was equally impressive, as he led the team with 10 pass breakups and finished second with three interceptions. His performance earned him recognition as a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, and he was widely regarded as one of the top defensive players in college football.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman expressed how tough the loss of Morrison is for the team, noting his leadership and exceptional work ethic. Freeman described Morrison as a “captain” who has given everything to the game, and acknowledged the challenge of losing such an important player. Despite the setback, Freeman emphasized that Morrison is resilient and will work hard in his recovery to return to the field.
As Notre Dame deals with Morrison’s absence, the team will rely on younger players to step up. Freshmen Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs will rotate at cornerback alongside Christian Gray, and starting nickelback Jordan Clark could also see time in Morrison’s position. Moore is currently listed as the starter on the depth chart, and Freeman expressed confidence in the remaining players in the secondary, despite the growing list of injuries the team has faced this season.
In addition to Morrison, Notre Dame has suffered several other key injuries, including to defensive linemen Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho, and offensive linemen Ashton Craig and Charles Jagusah. As the team prepares to face Georgia Tech, Freeman confirmed that wide receiver Jordan Faison is also dealing with an injury but will be available for the game, though he is not at full strength. The injury issues have thinned Notre Dame’s roster as they push through the remainder of the season.
