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Zone Read: Benjamin Morrison Unplugged

Arizona Sports News online

Last month former Brophy Prep standout Benjamin Morrison returned to the Valley to host a youth football camp at his downtown Phoenix alma mater.

“Zone Read” sat down with the Notre Dame junior cornerback, who was named a Freshman All-American in 2022, a Thorpe Award Semifinalist last year, and is projected as one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the 2025 NFL draft if he opts to leave South Bend after this upcoming season.

We discussed a myriad of topics, both on and off the field, during our visit. 

How has your summer been to this point? “I’ve been back [in the Valley] since the beginning of May. I’ve had a good time with my family – spending some time with them. We head back to school on [June 8th], then we have off-season workouts for the next eight weeks and then fall ball starts. We have camp July 31st. I’ll come home about a week before but then, once camp hits, it’s go time. Season time!”

From a health standpoint, I know you missed all of ND spring ball with surgery. How did the surgery go and how are feeling? “I felt surgery went really good. I feel like I’m myself. I’m getting back into my daily routines and stuff like that. I can’t complain. I’m just trusting God through it all. He has a plan for all this. So, I’m just trusting him and understanding that it’s all going to work out. I’ll be back for the season [opener] probably. Timeline is still up in the air. I’m not going to force it. We’ll see what happens.”

Did you come to youth camps like this growing up? “I did. All the time (smiling)…I was speaking about how, on the way here, it was kind of surreal how, like, I was so ecstatic to come to things like this. I would wake up, have my outfit planned out to come out here and practice.

“It’s just pretty cool to come back and do my own thing. To give back to the community means so much.”

You need to be honest with me on this next one. Who’s the best athlete in your family? I mean, your dad Darryl played safety in the NFL. You have four siblings – all of which were/are college athletes. Who ‘ya got? “Me (laughing). It’s me. No-brainer.”

I asked this same question to Bijan Robinson who, as you know, attended Salpointe Catholic, another highly regarded academic and athletic prep school. How much did Brophy help prepare for those same demands and challenges at Notre Dame? “I mean, it’s [Brophy College] Preparatory for a reason. I feel it really prepared me. Just to help me better understand how time is really valuable. You have to make time for what you really want to do. It leaves little free time. That’s when you start to understand that you have to do what’s obligated first and that the fun comes after.

“So, I think that’s what [Brophy] taught me the most is you put all your priorities first. You get them done with and then you can have some fun time after. Going to this school prepared me to have my head on straight and to do what is right. Do what you’re told to do, and then when you have the time by yourself, make sure you enjoy yourself.”

What are you studying? “Psychology. It’s been good. I’m on track to graduate in two more semesters.”

On the field, what you did two years ago as a true freshman, was simply beyond impressive – a team-high seven interceptions on the way to being named a Freshman All-American. Was the speed of college football never a problem for you, even from the day you stepped on campus in South Bend? “Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, I feel it’s just football. Everything around you gets bigger. The stands get bigger. The [crowds] get bigger. Everything gets bigger but if you just focus on the football field you grew up playing on since you were six years old, that’s all you have to focus on. That’s what I did. I honed in on that and understood what I wanted to do going into college.

“I also think, the biggest thing is prayer. I can sit up here and say I did it all by myself, but I didn’t. I had God’s favor in my life to put me in a position to send me to the right school to even be able to have the opportunity do that. So, it’s really just God’s favor in my life with hard work and dedication. At the end of the day, it’s just football. Everyone out there puts their pants on the same way. That’s the coolest thing about it. Once you [realize] that, you can take everything for what it really is.”

I haven’t talked to you in a minute. Take us through your 96-yard pick-six against Clemson two years ago. “I mean, I was just in position. I saw the ball coming and I broke on it.

“I started running [down the sideline] and next thing I know, I look up, and I see everyone in the stands going crazy. It was a back shoulder ball and he was going vertical still. I just got my eyes back on it.”

Did you know you were going to house it as soon as you caught it? “That was the goal (laughing). That was definitely the goal.”

Describe what it’s like to run out of that Notre Dame Stadium tunnel under Touchdown Jesus. “I think I won’t truly appreciate it until I’m gone. I feel like you’re so locked in on the moment and what you’re tasked to do. So, I feel like you don’t really appreciate that until you leave but it’s awesome. It’s an awesome feeling.”

Last question – I’m sure you’ve dreamed about playing in the NFL since you were a little kid. You’ve put yourself in a position to fulfill that dream. Can you see that coming sooner than later? If you know what I’m saying (laughing). “Well, I dont want to put the cart before the horse but, I got this third season coming up and we’ll see what happens after that.”

 

 

 

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