Notre Dame football equipped to deal with latest massive injury news
Just as Notre Dame football started preparing in earnest from Georgia Tech, its head coach had to deliver some terrible news. Star cornerback Benjamin Morrison is out for the rest of the year. And considering the injury, it's time to start worrying about when he might return.
Coach Marcus Freeman said Morrison, a junior who has started throughout his career, will need hip surgery after injuring it in Saturday's 49-7 win against Stanford. Morrison had 20 tackles and four pass breakups in six starts this season.
For Morrison, the news is bad because this late in the season, there's some real concern about whether he'll be back in time to show the NFL what he can do on the next level. Unfortunately for the Notre Dame football team, it's a tough loss, but one they're especially equipped to deal with.
The Irish were without Morrison this spring and there was at least some concern he might miss the start of the regular season. So in that regard, the Blue and Gold have been mentally preparing themselves for Morrison's absence.
Notre Dame football having to replace another corner
That doesn't make him not being on the field remotely easy to deal with.
"Obviously, it's a blow to our team," Freeman said at his Monday press conference. "You lose a captain, great football player, and you feel terrible for the kid. He gives football, he gives preparation, everything he has. It's just tough. He's a tough kid, he's been through this before and he'll have surgery and get back to work to becoming the best version of Benjamin."
At some point, it would be nice if the Fighting Irish didn't have to find ways to replace their starters. The Golden Domers are now down five players who were expected to start or did open the season as the starter:
Morrison, Jordan Botelho, Boubacar Traore, Charles Jagusah and Ashton Craig.
If there is a silver lining, the Notre Dame football team has had to give its young corners, especially Leonard Moore plenty of playing time already this season. Leonard Moore already played a full game as the starting corner against the best receivers/passing game Notre Dame will see this season, outside of USC.