Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison has emerged as one of the
nation’s best defenders, and he’s getting plenty of preseason recognition. On top
of being considered a preseason All-American, Morrison was also named to the Thorpe Award Watch List.
The Thorpe Award is given out annually to the nation’s best defensive back.
Despite producing several All-Americans, including unanimous All-Americans, Notre Dame has never had a player win
the Thorpe Award. Secondary coach Mike Mickens did have one of his former
players win it in 2021 when Coby Bryant won the award
Morrison intercepted three more passes as a sophomore in 2023, but he broke up a team-high 10 passes. In two seasons,
opposing quarterbacks have completed just 46.1-percent of their passes when
Morrison was targeted (according to Pro Football Focus). In those two seasons,
Morrison has picked off nine passes and broken up 14 more attempts.
In two matchups against Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Morrison clearly got the better of the matchup.
Harrison caught just two passes on six targets for 26 yards in the two games, combined. In two games against USC,
Morrison gave up just two completions (6 targets) for 3 yards. He broke up two
passes and had an interception in those games. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye had just one completion for
six yards when targeting Morrison, and Morrison held Boston College star Zay
Flowers without a catch in their matchups against each other
