BREAKING: Notre Dame star cornerback Benjamin Morrison is out for the season

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Star Cornerback and Captain Benjamin Morrison suffers season ending hip injury.

Morrison is three-year starter and captain for the Irish, who's also a projected first round pick in the 2025 NFL draft but injuries are adding up for the Junior.

Morrison didn't see much time during the spring and summer, recovering from a shoulder injury, that put a questionable tag on him going into week one versus Texas A&M. All that being said, he hasn't had the same level of production as previous seasons. During Morrison's freshman campaign he hauled in six interceptions, followed by three as a sophomore.

Halfway into the season, Morrison is now done after injuring his hip, that requires surgery.

"Last injury update is Benjamin Morrison injured his hip and has to have surgery and will be out for the season. And so obviously it's a blow to our team. You lose a captain, great football player," Head Coach Marcus Freeman said.  

Freeman announced the devastating news during his Monday press conference and you could feel the air taken out of the room after the media learned of the huge loss to the defense.

"You feel terrible for the kid, because he is a he's just, he gives football, he gives preparation, everything he has and you know, it's just tough, but he's a tough kid. He's a tough individual. He's been through this before, and he'll have surgery and get back to work to becoming the best version of Benjamin," Freeman added.

The loss of Morrison comes in addition to losing Jaden Mickey to the transfer portal weeks ago. Freeman is turning to freshman Leonard Moore as the other starting corner with sophomore Christian Gray. Unfortunately, the room is thin, so another freshman, Karson Hobbs will be the backup, with the possibility of more versality from the defensive backs as a whole.

"Those two guys will have to help us if we need them, Karson (Hobbs), who was in the same position two weeks ago when Christian was out. So, Jordan Clark could help us at corners. He showed in Louisville game too. So, we're obviously thin with some injuries, but I'm very confident in the room," Freeman added.