Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 26, 2024 53 O n A p r i l 2 0, No t re Da m e held a groundbreaking cer- emony for the Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall, a new foot- ball operations facility projected to open in 2026. Four people gave their remarks. First came athletics director Pete Bevacqua. After him, former AD and current AD Emeritus Jack Swarbrick. Marcus Freeman came next. Sitting in the seat Freeman vacated was junior cornerback Ben- jamin Morrison. He would be the last one at the lectern. Freeman invited Morrison to speak that day because, to para- phrase the third-year head coach, he embodies what being a Notre Dame athlete is about. Morrison, his right arm in a sling from offsea- son shoulder surgery, did just that. "Facilities do matter," Morrison said to a crowd of donors. "Notre Dame must be at the forefront of everything we do." That's who Morrison has been throughout his three years in South Bend: A perfect representative of Notre Dame football, on and off the field. After undergoing season-ending hip surgery following a 49-7 win over Stanford Oct. 12, it's possible — likely, even — that Morrison has played his last down in a blue-and-gold uniform. He is a consensus projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, provided his hip injury does not linger into the offsea- son and his medical evaluation does not raise any red flags. Morrison could always decide he has unfinished business at Notre Dame, or he could be advised to remain in South Bend one more year and prove he's healthy. But the risk of his stock drop- ping further with more injuries is real, and staying in school after receiving a first-round grade is rare. If this is it for Morrison's career with the Irish, what a run it was. A low four-star or high three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, Morrison was Notre Dame's best cornerback the moment he arrived on campus in June 2022. He intercepted 6 passes in Year 1, earning Freshman All-American status. The interceptions died down, but the level of play did not. Morrison allowed 12 receptions on 27 targets for 125 yards — 4.6 yards per attempt — in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. Throughout his ca- reer, quarterbacks targeting Morrison connected on only 59 of 129 throws (45.7 percent) for 700 yards (5.4 yards per at- tempt) with 4 touchdowns and 9 inter- ceptions. On top of the picks, he broke up 12 passes to boot. Those numbers are excellent, but they don't fully capture the impact the Phoe- nix Brophy Prep product made on Notre Dame's defense. When Morrison played, the Irish knew they had his side of the field locked down. Defensive coordinator Al Golden could play single-high, man coverage across the board and send the house at opposing quarterbacks. Notre Dame would not have beaten Texas A&M in Week 1 without that strategy, and it would not have used that strategy without Morrison. "That's who we are," Freeman said Sept. 21. "We play some zone as change-ups, but as you watch this defense, that's what we're built off of." Against the best of the best, Mor- rison shined brightest. He played two games against eventual No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr., and he allowed 2 receptions in 7 tar- gets with 3 forced incompletions. Notre Dame did not worry about elite No. 1 wide receivers with Mor- rison in the fold. It's a luxury few teams possess. Morrison was a perfect player in the locker room, too. After his standout freshman year, he dedi- cated himself to paying it forward. Sophomore cornerback Chris- tian Gray ascended to the starting lineup in fall camp and is off to a dominant start to his career, and Freeman credited much of his de- velopment to Morrison. "One of the greatest things for Christian is he had a great example and mentor in Benjamin Morrison," Freeman said. "Those two roomed together in the hotel, and I would see them studying last year when Christian wasn't the starter." Morrison roomed with freshman cor- nerback Leonard Moore in fall camp this year. The Irish believe he's a future star, too. It's no wonder, then, that Notre Dame elected Morrison a captain ahead of the 2024 season. He was a shoo-in. "BMo" is beloved at the Irish Athletic Center, and when he returns to the facility soon after his surgery, that won't change. "He's eager to get back here," Freeman said Oct. 17. "Once he's able to get back around our guys, his leadership skills will continue to show." And in Gray, Moore and those who come after them, Notre Dame will reap the rewards of Morrison's legacy for years to come. ✦ Morrison held opposing quarterbacks to 59 completions on 129 throws (45.7 percent) for 700 yards (5.4 yards per attempt) with 4 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and 12 passes broken up during his three seasons at Norte Dame. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER If This Is It, What A Career For Benjamin Morrison Staff writer Jack Soble has covered Notre Dame athletics for Blue & Gold Illustrated since August 2023. Contact him at Jack.Soble@on3.com. OFF THE DOME JACK SOBLE