NFL DRAFT: Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Emotional

In the 2nd round with the 53rd overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Notre Dame cornerback, Benjamin Morrison.

Morrison quietly arrived at Notre Dame in the summer of 2022, and quickly impressed Irish coaches enough over the summer and fall camp to earn playing time as a freshman. Benjamin played in 13 games that first year and pulled down 6 interceptions. Two of those interceptions were against the Clemson Tigers, and one of them was brought back over 90 yards for a touchdown.

He followed that up with a sophomore season that saw less balls go his way as he still pulled down 3 interceptions. One of the best games of his career was against the Ohio State Buckeyes where he basically locked down Marvin Harrison Jr. all night long.

Injuries not only shortened his junior year, but almost certainly caused him to drop from being a first round lock, to a second round pick.

Tampa got a steal.

Do you think he wants this? Check out his emotional reaction to being selected by the Bucs, and tell me isn’t all-in on being the best there is in the league.

From the ND press release:

Benjamin Morrison Selected 53rd Overall In NFL Draft By Tampa Bay

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Benjamin Morrison was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. The first Notre Dame player selected in the 2025 Draft, Morrison becomes the highest Irish defensive back selected in the NFL Draft since Kyle Hamilton (2022). He is the eighth Notre Dame player drafted by Tampa Bay all-time (most recent was T Robert Hainsey, 2021)

A 2024 team captain, Morrison led the Irish with six interceptions in 2022, earning consensus Freshman All-America honors. Morrison added three more interceptions to his career total in the 2023 season and owns the second-most for a Notre Dame player since 1996, behind teammate Xavier Watts.

While his 2024 season was cut short due to injury, Morrison amassed four pass breakups and 20 tackles in just six games. He continued to serve as a leader on defense for the Irish as they made their run to the CFP National Title game, as Notre Dame’s defense finished the season first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).

His six interceptions in 2022 were the most for an Irish player since Manti Te’o picked off seven passes on his way to finishing second in the 2021 Heisman Trophy balloting. It also is the most for an Irish cornerback since Cole Luke intercepted four passes in 2014.

The six interceptions were the third-most for any FBS defensive player in 2022 and tied for the most of any Power 5 defensive back.