Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison Sends Clemson Home
According to defensive coordinator Al Golden, Benjamin Morrison hadn't hit the freshman wall.
Yet, opponents were picking the 6-foot, 180-pounder over the last few weeks, including Syracuse's Garrett Shrader, as he hit a 13-yard touchdown on Morrison last week.
Morrison stayed off Social Media, but don't think he wasn't motivated by teams going after him.
"I tried to stay off the internet and everything. Syracuse game, I was tested a lot,” explained Morrison. “I knew I didn't perform at the level I wanted to perform at. I knew what I wanted to accomplish. I set goals for myself, so I hold myself to a high standard. I knew I had to step up.
"I don't really care about the media or anything of that. It was more for me knowing I wasn't playing at the level I knew I could play. It was a great opportunity tonight in front of all the fans against the No. 4 team in the country. That was pretty cool."
It worked.
Clemson was searching for a spark down 14-0 with 1:20 left in the third quarter and inserted freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik. Two plays later, Morrison picked off Klubnik and the irish offense scored its third touchdown of the game to go up 21-0.
But it was Morrison trusting his coaching and playing under control that led to the interception.
“I've been taught here when you're in that situation, always under cut everything,” stated Morrison. “Knowing I have help over the top, I’m supposed to undercut it. I knew if he threw it he would have to pay for it, so I was just praying he was throwing it because the receiver got me off the line. I knew I had to use my speed to catch up.
“Once I was in the position I was, undercut it and there was the ball.”
DJ Uiagalelei was put back into the game and led Clemson to the red zone, which was a place Notre Dame had yet to stop an opponent this season. On 2nd-and-10, Morrison once again trusted his coaching and instincts.
Morrison picked off Uiagalelei and returned it 96 yards to give Notre Dame a 28-0 lead, which included sending the home crowd into an absolute frenzy as the Irish finished off the Tigers 35-14.
“That was kind of cool because I've been struggling with that position all year long,” Morrison explained. “Back shoulder fade, back shoulder fade, just getting my eyes back. So today I was really just focused on the details. Once I had them in the position I wanted to, I could have just played to the man and just -- but I trusted my abilities and put my head around there.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman wasn’t surprised Morrion stepped his play under the brightest lights.
Morrison comes from a family of athletes and has been prepared to handle the adversity of college football, which allowed the Arizona native to move past some early struggles.
“Just a mentally tough kid,” stated Freeman. “Got a PI called against him and comes back and gets an interception. Got a ball caught on him and then comes back and gets a pick six. Cedit to his parents. He has a special set of parents. Dad played in the NFL for a while, but also he is a minister and helps him spiritually and mentally stay in the right mindset. His mother is just an incredible woman that has raised a couple gymnasts and it's, to me, a reflection of his upbringing.
“He's an ultimate competitor that doesn't get shaken. It's really uncommon for a freshman to be like that.”
As for what the moment meant to Morrison, it’s why he came to Notre Dame.
“It means everything just because like I pray for moments like this, dream of moments like this,” said Morrison. “For it to actually come into full circle is a cool feeling, awesome feeling. Grateful; blessed.
“So my team gets all the credit. The front is crazy. They allow all the pressure, so when you come to a school with a good D-line that forces some inspections, which happened tonight.”
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