Two Notre Dame Defenders Are Ranked As Top 10 Returning DBs By ESPN

ESPN ranked Notre Dame standouts Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts as two of the top 10 returning defensive backs in college football for 2024

Notre Dame stars Xavier Watts (0) and Benjamin Morrison (20) are among the nation's top returning defensive backs / Angela Driskell - Casey Patrick, Irish Breakdown

ESPN released its top 10 returning defensive backs for the 2024 season, and a pair of Notre Dame stars made the list. Junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison and senior safety Xavier Watts were both named to the list, which was generated by voting from ESPN college football reporters.

Morrison was Notre Dame's highest ranked player, checking in as the No. 5 returning defensive back in the country. He was the third highest ranked cornerback in the group.

"Morrison shares a defensive backfield with the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner in safety Xavier Watts, but he might have a higher ceiling, both in college and with his NFL draft outlook. He had a breakout season as a freshman in 2022, recording six interceptions, which ranked seventh nationally and were the most for a Notre Dame players since Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te'o in 2012. Although Watts had the glitzier interceptions numbers last season, Morrison had a very strong encore, leading the team with 10 pass breakups. He also added three more interceptions as well as 3.5 tackles for loss, showing improvement against the run.

"A sound tackler who can mark an opponent's top receiver, Morrison was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. The son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison could be one of the first defensive players selected in the 2025 draft if he maintains his trajectory as a ball-hawking cornerback." - Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

Watts checked in as the No. 7 returning defensive back in the land, and he was the third highest ranked safety.

"Truth be told, Watts may be a little low on this list considering all he accomplished last season -- and the potential for more in 2024. The reigning Bronko Nagurski Award winner as the best defensive player in the country, Watts was a unanimous All-American in 2023, leading the nation with seven interceptions while also finishing with 52 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 11 passes defended and a forced fumble returned for a touchdown.

"Watts could have turned pro but decided to go back to school for one more season, returning to a veteran group that has designs on a playoff berth. His rise to becoming the best safety in the country has been fast. Watts began his career as a wide receiver, but switched positions and emerged as a starting safety at the end of 2022." - Andrea Adelson, ESPN

She is absolutely correct about that. Watts was a unanimous All-American in 2023 and won the Bronko Nagurski Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. Watts and Morrison both got one first place vote each, so there are at least two voters from this list that see them both as not being ranked high enough.

Notre Dame and Ohio State are the only two teams with a pair of defensive backs. The Buckeyes have No. 4 Caleb Downs (safety) and No. 6 Denzel Burke (cornerback). The voters had Georgia's Malaki Starks as the No. 1 overall defensive back. Starks is an outstanding player for the Bulldogs, and I won't push back on him being at the top of the board.

The player I will take issue with is Colorado's Travis Hunter. An outstanding talent, Hunter gets way too much credit for his highlight reel plays and two-way ability when looking at defensive back rankings. Hunter is no doubt a unique player and a brilliant talent. I'd argue his impact is even greater at wide receiver than cornerback, and my goal is not to tear him down as a player. He's a pleasure to watch and he's a very unique athlete, and he's must see TV. There are few players who can be as good as he is on both sides of the ball.

But this is a ranking of defensive backs, not all-around players. You want to rank Hunter as the best all-purpose player in the country, go for it, because he is. But he is not the best returning cornerback in the game, and it's not even close. Both Morrison and Michigan's Will Johnson should be ranked ahead of Hunter. I would also make a very strong argument that Burke should also be ranked ahead of the Colorado standout.

Their film is better and their results were much better. According to Pro Football Focus, Hunter gave up 414 receiving yards last season while playing in just nine games. He also allowed five passing touchdowns in those nine games, which is two more than Morrison and Johnson allowed combined. I am having a hard time finding a reason to have Hunter ranked ahead of Morrison, Johnson, Burke and Watts outside of hype from people who apparently didn't watch enough film.

With that objection aside, it speaks volumes about how far things have come for Notre Dame when it comes to recruiting and developing the secondary. The Irish had one of the nation's best group of defensive backs in 2023, and the 2024 group has a chance to be just as good, if not better, despite the loss of standout Cam Hart, nickel Thomas Harper and veteran DJ Brown.

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