Tag: 2024 Notre Dame football

Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison earns high Pro Football Focus ranking

The Irish corner is still elite

Notre Dame cornerback [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] is the second-ranked corner for next year’s 2025 NFL Draft, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Irish star slots in behind Michigan’s Will Johnson and ahead of Colorado’s Travis Hunter among the top three players at the position.

Morrison, a junior, had 31 tackles – 25 solo – and three interceptions in 2023. His 2022 season was also impressive with 33 tackles, 22 solo tackles, and six picks, one of which led to a touchdown. He defended 10 passes last season, as well.

Not only that, the former Freshman All-American turned to the other side of the ball and caught a touchdown pass on offense that season.

Morrison will be expected to be a stalwart on a strong Notre Dame defense that held Ohio State to just 14 points last year – but also had lapses against Clemson and Louisville. If Morrison continues to play at the same level, he will definitely be looking at an early draft selection in the spring.

The other that made the list were: Arizona’s Tacario Davis, Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, Iowa’s Sebastian Castro, Texas’s Jahdae Barron, Virginia Tech’s Dorian Strong, Louisville Quincy Riley, and Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston rounded out PFF’s top 10 corners for next spring’s NFL Draft in Green Bay.

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Brady Quinn weighs in on Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard

From one quarterback to another…

When you talk about the greatest quarterbacks Notre Dame has ever seen it doesn’t take long to get to [autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag].  The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist now works as a college football analyst on Fox Sports and recently met projected Notre Dame starting quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] for the first time.

“He’s a big kid,” Quinn said of the 6-foot-4, 216-pound senior. “He fits the bill for that. He’s a good athlete. He’s got a strong arm. I think he’s very capable of stepping into that role and being the guy. Obviously, an experienced quarterback. He brings all those intangibles to Notre Dame.”

As for Leonard’s recovery from injury that has left Notre Dame fans a bit concerned this off-season:

“I mean, look, injuries are always a concern,” said Quinn, now 39 and a decade removed from a pro career with seven NFL teams. “Especially when you’ve got a history. I dealt with foot issues. It’s just something you have to stay on top of and keep trying to do rehab, do different drills and things to help put yourself in the right position.”

Quinn also stressed the importance of others aiding in Leonard’s ultimate success at Notre Dame as the offensive line and new offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] will be key in the offense’s overall success in 2024.

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Notre Dame Quarterback Riley Leonard Health Update

Good news regarding Notre Dame’s starting quarterback

Much of former Duke quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag]’s time at Notre Dame has been marked with injury since his arrival this winter.

That’s left obvious concern with Notre Dame fans about where things stand for Leonard as the 2024 season approaches.  Despite the cleanups and such that kept Leonard off the field for much of spring (including the annual Blue Gold Game) there is a first-hand report that health appears close to 100%.

Jim Nagy is the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl which showcases national talent in preparation for each year’s NFL draft.  He recently saw Leonard throw in-person and shared the following.

It may not guarantee anything but it certainly should give a little peace of mind to Notre Dame fans who are concerned about Leonard’s health at this point in time.

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