ESPN way-too-early 2023 All-America team includes two Notre Dame players
The flood of preseason All-America teams every July and August is sure to include many mentions of two Notre Dame players, offensive tackle Joe Alt and cornerback Benjamin Morrison. In fact, they’re already popping up on the initial 2023 lists.
Alt and Morrison were named to ESPN’s way-too-early 2023 All-America team, released Friday. Like those preseason teams, it’s essentially a collection of the best players in college football heading into the season. Alt and Morrison meet that description after standout 2022 performances.
Each of the five NCAA-recognized All-America selectors recognized Alt in 2022, with the Associated Press giving him first-team honors. The FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp Football Foundation and Sporting News named him a second-team selection. The two consensus All-American tackles from last season, Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. and Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, are off to the NFL. That leaves Alt with a strong case as the best returning tackle in the sport.
“As a sophomore, Alt was one of the most dominant and consistent tackles in the country,” ESPN’s Chris Low wrote. “According to Pro Football Focus, he didn’t allow any sacks and allowed only [eight] pressures all season. Alt is extremely agile after playing tight end in high school and is following in the footsteps of his father, John Alt, who earned multiple Pro Bowl selections in the NFL. Alt will also have a new quarterback to protect from his left tackle position in 2023 with Sam Hartman transferring in from Wake Forest.”
The other tackle on ESPN’s team was Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, a projected first-round pick who chose to return to school.
Morrison appeared on every notable Freshman All-America team after he became a centerpiece of Notre Dame’s defense in his first year on campus. His 6 interceptions tied for third in the FBS and led all freshmen. He allowed catches on 43.1 percent of passes thrown at him, which ranked 19th among 387 FBS cornerbacks who played at least 200 coverage snaps. He added 33 tackles and 4 passes broken up. He was the first Notre Dame defensive back to reach 10 passes defended since Kyle Hamilton in 2019.
“Morrison is fresh off a splendid freshman season,” Low wrote. “His six interceptions were the most for a Notre Dame player since Manti Te’o picked off seven passes during the 2012 season. The 6-foot, 180-pound Morrison started nine games a year ago, and all six of his interceptions came in the final five games.
“His 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 35-14 win over Clemson was one of the plays of the year for the Irish. Morrison turned in a three-interception game against the Boston College Eagles and picked off his final pass in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.”
Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry was the other cornerback selected.
