SOUTH BEND — Overshadowing a stout overall performance by Notre Dame in its 49-7 win over Stanford last Saturday, Marcus Freeman’s weekly press conference soured quickly Monday afternoon. The coach of the No. 12-ranked Fighting Irish announced star cornerback Benjamin Morrison would be out for the season and require hip surgery after the win over the Cardinal.
Morrison, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, was in the middle of his junior year in South Bend and made 20 total tackles, deflecting four passes as well this season. He amassed nine interceptions and 23 pass deflections through his first two seasons. “Obviously, it’s a blow to our team,” Freeman said about Morrison, who underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason, but was recovered by the start of training camp.
“You lose a captain, a great football player. You feel terrible for the kid because he gives football, he gives preparation, everything he has. It’s just tough.
“But he’s a tough kid. He’s a tough individual. He’s been through this before.
He’ll have surgery, and he’ll get back to work to be becoming the best version of Benjamin.” Morrison was on several preseason All-America teams as one of the nation’s top corners. A likely top-20 NFL pick, it might be the final page of his career in South Bend.
Freshman Leonard Moore is in line to take over for Morrison. The 6-foot-2 Moore has played in all six Irish contests, making 13 tackles and forcing one fumble. Freshman Karson Ho.