Benjamin Morrison

OVERVIEW

 Morrison projects as a day-one starter with the potential to develop into a true lockdown corner at the next level. His combination of athleticism, ball skills, and football IQ make him an enticing prospect for teams running heavy man coverage schemes. While his size may give some teams pause, Morrison's playmaking ability and room for growth should make him a coveted target early in the draft. Scheme fit will be crucial for Morrison's NFL success. A team that employs a lot of press-man coverage will allow him to utilize his quick feet and mirroring ability. His high football IQ also makes him an asset in zone looks where he can read quarterbacks and jump routes. Morrison's skill set suggests he could thrive both on the outside or in the slot depending on matchups. With another year of development, Morrison has a chance to cement himself as one of the top cornerback prospects in recent years. His combination of production, athleticism, and youth make him an extremely intriguing player to watch. If Morrison can continue to refine his technique and add some muscle to his frame, he has the tools to become a perennial Pro Bowl-caliber defensive back in the NFL. 

BACKGROUND

 Morrison is a playmaking defensive back with a knack for creating turnovers. The Phoenix, Arizona native burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2022, leading the Fighting Irish with six interceptions. Morrison followed that up with another strong campaign in 2023, solidifying his status as one of the nation's top corners. Coming out of Brophy Prep as a four-star recruit, Morrison quickly exceeded expectations in South Bend. He earned Freshman All-American honors from multiple outlets after his stellar debut season. As a sophomore, Morrison continued to ball-hawk, grabbing three more interceptions and leading Notre Dame with 10 pass breakups. His nine career picks are the second-most by an Irish defender since 1996. Morrison's impressive collegiate resume includes being named a 2023 Thorpe Award Semifinalist and earning first-team All-Independent honors twice. The son of former NFL player Daryl Morrison, Benjamin has football in his blood.

 ANALYSIS

  PROS

 Elite short-area quickness and change of direction ability allow him to mirror receivers and stay glued in coverage Exceptional ball skills and awareness to locate and make plays on the football- has made nine career interceptions Fluid hip turn and backpedal with the foot speed to stay in phase on vertical routes Quick trigger to drive on underneath routes and limit yards after catch High football IQ with the ability to bait quarterbacks and jump routes for big plays Willing tackler who isn't afraid to mix it up in run support despite his smaller frame Versatile defender capable of playing both man and zone coverage at a high level Young for his class and still ascending as a player with room to develop further

 CONS

 Lacks ideal size and length for an outside cornerback at the next level, which could create matchup issues against bigger receivers Can get overpowered at times in press coverage and when fighting through blocks in the run game Occasionally relies too much on his athleticism and can get caught peeking in the backfield Tackling technique needs refinement to consistently bring down NFL-caliber ball carriers May need to add some bulk to his frame to hold up physically over a long NFL season

 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

HISTORY FROM SCHOOL PROFILE: 

• HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Watchlist for 2025 Senior Bowl
  • 2024 Team Captain
  • 2024 Associated Press Preseason All-American – Second Team
  • 2024 USA Today Preseason All-American – Second Team
  • 2024 ESPN Preseason All-American – First Team
  • 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American – First Team
  • 2023 Thorpe Award Semifinalist
  • 2023 Notre Dame Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Engagement Award
  • 2022 On3 Freshman All-American
  • 2022 College Football News Freshman All-American
  • 2022 Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American
  • 2022 The Athletic True Freshman All-American
  • 2022 247 Sports True Freshman All-American
  • 2022 ESPN True Freshman All-American
  • 2022 Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American
  • 2022 Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Week 10)
  • 2022 Jim Thorpe Award National Player of the Week (Week 12)

  AS A JUNIOR (2024)

  • at TEXAS A&M (8/31): Made the start and made an impact on defense and special teams in the win… registered two tackles – one solo and one assisted… added a pass breakup… helped limit the Aggies to 100 yards passing
  • NORTHERN ILLINOIS (9/7): Started in the game… collected five tackles… three solo, two assisted
  • at PURDUE (9/15): Started and collected a pair of tackles… one solo and one assisted
  • MIAMI UNIVERSITY (9/22): Started and collected two solo tackles… added a pass breakup
  • LOUISVILLE (9/28): Started on defense for the Irish… collected five solo tackles… added one pass breakup
  • STANFORD (10/12): Started for the Irish… collected four tackles – two solo, two assisted

  AS A SOPHOMORE (2023)

  • Played in 12 games, making 11 starts in his sophomore season … Recorded 31 tackles, 25 solo … Added 3.5 tackles for loss … Second on the team with three interceptions … Led the Irish with 10 pass breakups
  • NAVY (8/26): Made his season debut against the Navy Midshipmen in Dublin, Ireland … Recorded a pair of solo tackles in the win
  • TENNESSEE STATE (9/2): Finished with a solo tackle and a pass breakup
  • at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9/9): Grabbed his first interception of the season in the second quarter … Totaled three tackles, all solo … Added a tackle for loss, dropping NC State a yard behind the line of scrimmage
  • CENTRAL MICHIGAN (9/16): Finished with an assisted tackle and a pass breakup
  • OHIO STATE (9/23): Recorded a solo tackle … Earned a pair of pass breakups
  • at DUKE (9/30): Finished with three tackles, two solo
  • at LOUISVILLE (10/7): Finished with five solo tackles … Added a pass breakup
  • USC (10/14): Recorded four tackles, three solo … Dropped USC four yards behind the line for a tackle for loss … Finished with an interception to help set up a touchdown at the end of the first half … Added a pass breakup
  • at CLEMSON (11/4): Finished with four tackles, three solo … Added a tackle for loss when he jumped a bubble screen in the flat, bringing Clemson down three yards behind the line of scrimmage … Finished with three pass breakups
  • WAKE FOREST (11/18): Finished with three tackles, two solo .. Added one pass breakup
  • at STANFORD (11/25): Totaled two solo tackles
  • OREGON STATE – TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL  (12/29): Finished with two tackles, one solo … Added a half tackle for loss … Intercepted a pass at the end of the first half, making the second-straight season with a bowl game interception … The interception was the ninth of his career, second-most by an Irish defender since 1996 … The interception was the 16th of the season for the Irish defense, matching the 2014 squad and is third-most since 1996

  AS A FRESHMAN (2022)

  • Named a freshman All-American by On3, College Football News, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic and 247Sports. Led the team with six interceptions and finishing tied for seventh nationally with that mark. The six interceptions are the most for an Irish defender since 2012 when Manti Te’o recorded seven as he went on to finish second in the Heisman trophy voting. He was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against Clemson. Started nine and appeared in all 13 games of his freshman season. Ended the season with 33 tackles, 22 solo. In addition to his six interceptions, broke up four other passes during the year.
  • OHIO STATE (9/3): Made his collegiate debut, finishing with three tackles, two solo and a PBU.
  • CALIFORNIA (9/17): Made his first collegiate start against the Golden Bears. Recorded three tackles, one solo.
  • NORTH CAROLINA (9/24): Added a solo tackle.
  • STANFORD (10/15): Finished with two tackles, two assists and a PBU.
  • UNLV (10/22): Finished with two solo tackles in the win
  • SYRACUSE (10/29): Added three tackles, all solo in the win
  • CLEMSON (11/5): Recorded seven tackles on the outside, four solo, three assisted in the win. Earned his first career interception, picking off a pass over the middle to set up an Irish score. Extinguished a Clemson drive with his second interception, taking it 96 yards for a touchdown to put Notre Dame up 28-0 in the fourth quarter.
  • NAVY (11/12): Finished with three tackles, one for a two-yard loss in the win over Navy
  • BOSTON COLLEGE (11/19): Intercepted three Boston College passes, two of which came in the first quarter. His three interceptions tie a single game record, matching 14 others. Its the first time someone has intercepted three passes in a game since Harrison Smith picked off three against Miami (Fla.) in the 2010 Sun Bowl. Added a tackle in the win.
  • USC (11/26): Finished with three solo tackles in the loss. Added a pass breakup.
  • South Carolina – TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (12/30): Finished with three tackles, one solo in the victory. Added his team-leading sixth interception in the second quarter.

  PREP AND PERSONAL

  • Four-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN.com
  • No. 26 cornerback nationally and the No. 3 ranked player from Arizona by Rivals (5.8 Rivals rating)
  • No. 35 cornerback nationally and the No. 3 ranked player from Arizona by 247Sports.com
  • No. 47 cornerback nationally, No. 65 regionally and ranked No. 5 from the state of Arizona by ESPN.com (80 scout grade)
  • Set to participate in the Polynesian Bowl
  • 2021 First Team All-Region Kick Returner and First Team All-Region Cornerback
  • Tallied 53 tackles and two interceptions in his senior season
  • Recorded 73 total tackles, 65 solo and 9.5 TFLs in 15 games during his sophomore and junior season
  • Recorded two interceptions and seven PBUs during his sophomore season
  • Blocked two field goals and a punt during his sophomore and junior seasons
  • Averaged 28.0 yards per kick return as a junior
  • Played for head coach Jason Jewell at Brophy
  • Son of Jo Ann and Darryl Morrison
  • Has four siblings, all of which are collegiate athletes. Faith – Gymnastics (Washington), Samuel – Football (Arizona), Grace – Volleyball (Appalachian State) and Naomi – Gymnastics (Michigan)

2022

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
1.0	0.0	30.0	1.0	5.0	0.0	21.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	16.2	97.0	6.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0