Two Notre Dame football players named Associated Press preseason All-Americans
On Monday, the Associated Press revealed its preseason All-America teams. And two Notre Dame football players made the list.
The Associated Press selected Fighting Irish junior left tackle Joe Alt and sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison to the first and second teams, respectively.
Alt’s nomination comes after earning first-team All-America honors as a sophomore. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder from North Oaks, Minn., started in all 13 games in 2022 and helped the Irish finish 16th nationally in least tackles for loss allowed per game.
The Associated Press gave Morrison the nod following his freshman All-America season. The 6-foot ¼, 185-pound Morrison concluded his first-year campaign with six interceptions, the most in a single season since Manti Te’o had seven in 2012.
Morrison, who hails from Phoenix, was one of seven second-year players named preseason All-Americans.
A look at the complete Associated Press Preseason All-America Teams
Notre Dame opponents’ players are italicized. The Irish will face 12 preseason All-Americans in 2023.
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE
Quarterback: Caleb Williams (Southern California)
Running backs: Blake Corum (Michigan); Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss)
Tackles: Joe Alt (Notre Dame); Olu Fashanu (Penn State)
Guards: Cooper Beebe (Kansas State); Zak Zinter (Michigan)
Center: Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia)
Tight end: Brock Bowers (Georgia)
Wide receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State); Rome Odunze (Washington); Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
All-purpose player: Travis Hunter (Colorado)
Kicker: Joshua Karty (Stanford)
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE
Edge rushers: Jared Verse (Florida State); Bralen Trice (Washington)
Interior linemen: Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois); Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati)
Linebackers: Harold Perkins (LSU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Georgia); Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State)
Cornerbacks: Kool-aid McKinstry (Alabama); Kalen King (Penn State)
Safeties: Kam Kinchens (Miami); Malaki Starks (Georgia)
Defensive back: Cooper DeJean (Iowa).
Punter: Tory Taylor (Iowa).
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE
Quarterback: Drake Maye (North Carolina)
Running backs: Raheim Sanders (Arkansas); Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)
Tackles: JC Latham (Alabama); Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Guards: Donovan Jackson (Ohio State); Christian Mahogany (Boston College)
Center: Zach Frazier (West Virginia)
Tight end: Oronde Gadsden (Syracuse)
Wide receivers: Xavier Worthy (Texas); Malik Nabers (LSU); Jacob Cowing (Arizona)
All-purpose player: Will Shipley (Clemson)
Kicker: John Hoyland (Wyoming)
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE
Edge rushers: J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State); Dallas Turner (Alabama)
Interior linemen: Tyler Davis (Clemson); Mekhi Wingo (LSU)
Linebackers: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Clemson); Barrett Carter (Clemson); Cedric Gray (North Carolina)
Cornerbacks: Josh Newton (TCU); Ben Morrison (Notre Dame)
Safeties: Calen Bullock (Southern California); Javon Bullard (Georgia)
Defensive back: Will Johnson (Michigan)
Punter: Kai Kroeger (South Carolina)
