Benjamin Morrison

Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, CB, 6002, 193, Jr.

Draft Profile

Frankly: (To Be Added)

Overview

Morrison stands out as a versatile cornerback who can immediately contribute across various coverage systems in the NFL. His combination of quick-twitch athleticism, advanced route recognition, and fluid mirroring skills makes him particularly effective in man-heavy schemes. The hip injury that shortened his 2024 campaign is unlikely to significantly impact his draft stock, as modern recovery protocols and his clean prior medical history work in his favor. Comparisons to Marlon Humphrey during his early years with Baltimore highlight Morrison's ability to play bigger than his size through refined technique and competitive toughness. Teams running man coverage will especially value his capability to match receivers both in the slot and outside. Morrison’s body of work projects him as a potential CB1 with Pro Bowl upside, likely to hear his name called within the top 40 picks. In an NFL increasingly demanding multi-technique coverage from its corners, Morrison’s versatility, ball skills, and ability to process routes make him an immediate asset to any secondary.

Background

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Morrison comes from a family of elite Division I athletes, with four siblings also competing at the collegiate level. The Notre Dame standout wasted no time making an impact, delivering a stellar freshman campaign with six interceptions, including a game-changing pick-six against Clemson. His sophomore season solidified his reputation as one of college football’s premier ballhawks, earning him a Thorpe Award semifinalist nod and leading the team with 10 pass breakups. Though his junior season was cut short by a hip injury against Stanford, Morrison’s trajectory remained firmly pointed upward. Across three seasons, including 26 starts, Morrison showcased the ability to rise to challenges against elite competition, underscoring his readiness for the next level.

Scouting Report

Pros: Morrison processes route combinations exceptionally well, consistently jumping underneath routes before quarterbacks make their reads. His elite short-area quickness allows him to mirror receivers off the line, highlighted by his standout performance against USC’s receiving corps, which displayed flawless technique and fluidity. In press coverage, Morrison maintains leverage through quick footwork and fluid hips, staying locked in through stems and breaks. He demonstrates rare ball skills, tracking passes with precision and attacking the catch point with receiver-like hands. Morrison’s controlled aggression in zone coverage allows him to bait quarterbacks while remaining positioned to make plays on the ball. Despite his lean frame, he delivers surprising pop as a tackler, showing no hesitation in run support. His advanced route recognition makes him particularly effective against double moves, while his versatility allows him to excel both outside and in the slot.

Cons: Morrison’s slightly lean frame raises questions about durability against bigger NFL receivers, as he sometimes struggles against physical players who can box him out. In zone coverage, his eagerness to jump routes occasionally leaves deeper areas vulnerable to exploitation. His disengagement technique against blocking receivers remains a work in progress, as larger players can hold him up when setting the edge. The recent hip surgery introduces mild durability concerns, though his injury history prior to this was clean. Morrison occasionally relies too much on athleticism, leading to recovery situations that may be more challenging against NFL-caliber route runners.

 

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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