Phil Steele has released its 2023 Preseason All-America team and three University of Notre Dame football student-athletes were named to one of the four teams, led by first-team selection junior offensive tackle Joe Alt. Sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison, a freshman All-America in 2022, was selected to the second team along with graduate student long snapper Michael Vinson.
Alt earned first-or-second team All-America honors from 12 different outlets at the end of the 2022 season and finished the year as the top rated offensive tackle in the country according to Pro Football Focus.
Alt contributed to an offensive line that paved the way for 2,457 rushing yards in 2022, a 4.6 yards-per-carry average, 25 rushing touchdowns and seven 200-yard rushing performances.
Morrison was one of the late-season breakout stars of college football in 2022, picking off two interceptions and returning one 96 yards for a touchdown in Notre Dame’s 35-14 romp over No. 5 Clemson.
The rookie then claimed a share of the Notre Dame single-game record with three interceptions in a shutout win over Boston College, including two interceptions in the first quarter. He then capped his outstanding freshman year with an interception in the Gator Bowl victory over South Carolina.
Morrison appeared in all 13 games in 2022, starting nine and finishing the year with 33 tackles, 22 solo stops and four pass break ups.
Vinson, who earned first-team AFCA All-America honors last season and was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mennelly Award, went without an errant snap in 2022, helping the Irish go 43-for-43 for PAT kicks and 13-18 on field goal attempts.
Phil Steele also released his conference-by-conference preseason awards and 11 Irish players appeared on the All-Independent Team First Team. Quarterback Sam Hartman, running back Audric Estimé, wide receiver Chris Tyree, center Zeke Correll, offensive tackle Joe Alt, offensive tackle Blake Fisher, defensive end Jordan Botelho, defensive tackle Ryle Mills, linebacker J.D. Bertrand, cornerback Benjamin Morrison and long snapper Michael Vinson represented the Fighting Irish on the 29-member first team.
On the 2nd team, Notre Dame selections included wide receiver Jayden Thomas, tight end Mitchell Evans, defensive tackle Howard Cross III, linebacker Jack Kiser, linebacker Marist Liufau, cornerback Cam Hart and place kicker Spencer Shrader.