Two of Notre Dame’s most prolific defensive backs ever were selected on Day two of the NFL Draft.

Cornerback Benjamin Morrison, once considered a 1st round pick before injury, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2nd round with the 53rd overall pick while safety Xavier Watts went to in the 3rd round with the 96th overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons.

Both were captains for the Irish in 2024 as Notre Dame made it all the way to the national championship game, although Morrison saw his season cut short due to a season ending injury early in the year. Video of Morrison’s phone call with the Bucs posted by the Notre Dame Football Twitter Account showed incredible emotion for Morrison to live out his dream to play in the NFL and follow in the footsteps of his father. He is Notre Dame’s highest defensive back selected in the NFL Draft since Kyle Hamilton in 2022.

Watts, who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player in 2023, followed up the performance by being Notre Dame’s last line of defense in their run to the national title game in 2024. Watts joins his former Irish teammates JD Bertrand and Khalid Kareem in Atlanta.

Morrison and Watts are the only two Notre Dame players drafted through the first three rounds. The final day and final four rounds of the draft will take place on Saturday.