Leonard Moore – Syndication Server

Two Notre Dame football stars named to top-10 2025 impact player list

The Irish return two bonafide stars In ‘25

With the college football season having been completed for just over a week, it’s never to early to look ahead to next fall and what Notre Dame could look like.

While the Irish lost star cornerback Benjamin Morrison, the rest of the roster turnover was made up of a few transfer backups and players who no longer had eligibility. That means that Notre Dame will be returning some elite players, and On3’s list to top-10 players for the 2025 season confirmed that.

Irish star cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] made the list, as the pair had plenty of eyes on them during the run to the College Football Playoff Championship game.

Moore came in at No. 8, and is coming off a Freshman All-American season after 48 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and two interceptions. He also batted away 11 passes, and if he can turn just a few of those into takeaways in the fall, Moore could make more All-American teams in the future.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore win’s huge freshman award — Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) celebrates interrupting a reception attempt during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

Love was the last player on the list, but you could make an argument he should be higher. He gained 1,125-yards on the ground with 17 touchdowns, while catching 28 receptions for 237-yards and two more scores.

Love did all of that while battling multiple injuries, and if he can stay healthy, he’s got a chance to make All-American honors as well. While I don’t think the volume will be there for him to win the Heisman, Love is still one of the most electric players in the country.

Could Jeremiyah Love be done with his knee brace against Ohio State? — Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates a first down in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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Will Notre Dame change it’s defensive philosophy against Ohio State?

It looks like its going to be good against good for the Irish

One of the biggest questions surrounding Notre Dame football is how they will game plan defensively against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Championship game.

The Irish typically play a lot of man coverage, but the Buckeyes boast two of the nation’s best wide receivers in Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. On Thursday, the media asked freshman All-American cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] if they would be making any changes to the scheme, in short, no as shared by Matt Freeman on social media.

Moore went on to say that they are “not going to change who we are. We’re going to play man coverage like we do every week.” There are some game where the Buckeyes have struggled to move the ball through the air, but it doesn’t look like Notre Dame will try and copy those teams that have had success.

The confidence is high in the Irish secondary that they can stop the Ohio State passing attack.

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Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore win’s huge freshman award

Congrats Leonard!

It’s safe to say that Notre Dame football found a diamond in the rough with cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag].

Ranked as the nation’s No. 430 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, the 6-foot, 2-inch and 187-pound Texan had 43 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, with 10 passes broken up and two interceptions.

A massive true-freshman season for Moore has resulted in him being named as the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Most likely this breakout season would not have happened with a healthy Benjamin Morrison, but the Notre Dame star was lost midseason with a hip injury. It’s funny because he even called his teammates rise to stardom.

This award is a testament to the skill that Moore possesses and the Notre Dame coaching staff’s ability to identify talent, regardless of what the rankings say. There is a big probability that he is the next Irish member of the secondary to be a three-and-out star that lands in the first round of the NFL draft.

Leonard Moore had a pick in the first half against Virginia. — Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) lines up during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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ESPN names three Notre Dame freshman to its All-American team

The future is bright in South Bend

The future is bright in South Bend, and Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman not being afraid to play freshman has paid off big dividends.

Late last week, ESPN’s Tom Luginbill named three Irish freshman as All-American’s (subscription required), offensive tackle [autotag]Anthonie Knapp[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa[/autotag], and defensive back [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag].

Knapp has been a day-one starter as Luginbill credited his early enrollment and “acumen” as to why he was so successful during his first season with Notre Dame. Viliamu-Asa has been great, as he said that what put him on the list was his “size and length to rush off the edge, but he’s also been effective as a run-stopper and even flashed in coverage.”

As for Moore, he’s also been impressive in multiple phases of his game. Luginbill highlighted his “ball skills and a penchant for disruptive plays,” as a big reason why Moore was named as an All-American.

Multiple other freshman like running back Aneyas Williams and defensive end Bryce Young have flashed as well, and although they weren’t named to the team, their futures are still very bright.

Notre Dame freshman cornerback Leonard Moore dominated against Indiana — Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) celebrates interrupting a reception attempt during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame freshman cornerback Leonard Moore dominated against Indiana

The freshman continues to impress

Not many expected true-freshman [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] to have a big impact for Notre Dame football during his first season, but with injuries suffered in the secondary, he was forced into action.

Fortunately for the Irish, there hasn’t been much of a drop-off from the play of the freshman, as he showed multiple times over the course of the season that he belongs on the field. Moore did that once again against Indiana, as Pro Football Focus posted on social media how dominant he was.

In 42 coverage snaps, he allowed just one reception on six targets for just 17-yards. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke has just a 39.6 passer rating when looking Moore’s way.

You love to see the Irish having yet another shut-down cornerback, as Moore presence has shut down a portion of the field, making opposing offenses think twice about throwing to his side. He very well could be the next Notre Dame cornerback to have a three-and-out career while being drafted high into the NFL.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) celebrates interrupting a reception attempt during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame statistical leaders through 11 games

Who leads the Irish heading into the final regular-season contest?

Notre Dame has its fate in its own hands for the College Football Playoff. All it needs to do is defeat USC, and a first-round game at Notre Dame Stadium appears to be a certainty. Who would have thought the Irish would be in such a good position after the loss to Northern Illinois threatened to derail their season early?

The Irish can’t afford to get complacent though. The Trojans have not had a great season, but dealing the Irish a loss that could threaten their playoff chances would make up for everything that has gone wrong for them. That’s why the Irish will need to prepare for them like they would for any ranked team, and the talent they have should allow them to emerge victorious.

Here are the major statistical leaders the Irish are taking into their regular-season finale. Not all of them will be available, but they’re fun to see nonetheless:

Notre Dame Week 13 highlight — Forced fumble before half kills Army drive

A fumble before halftime sums up Army’s night against Notre Dame so far.

After No. 6 Notre Dame punched the ball into the end zone late in the first half against No. 18 Army, courtesy of running back [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag], the Black Knights did have a chance to mount a scoring drive before halftime.

The Fighting Irish prevented that from happening, however, when cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] forced Army quarterback [autotag]Bryson Daily[/autotag] to fumble. Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] recovered.

The Irish failed to capitalize, however, when kicker [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] pushed a 48-yard field-goal attempt wide right. Jeter has been dealing with a groin injury.

Jack Kiser is now the longest-tenured Irish player. — Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser (24) lines up during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

Notre Dame vs. Army: Second-Quarter Analysis

The Irish have the lead halfway through.

Notre Dame’s defense did itself no favors at the beginning of the second quarter against Army. If one had told that unit the Irish would be up, xx-7, at halftime, they have might considered themselves lucky.

With the Knights near the end zone on third-and-short, [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] was penalized for hands to the face, which gave Bryson Daily the fresh set of downs he needed to run for a 4-yard touchdown and get his team on the board.

[autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] led an impressive offensive drive that began at the Irish’s 25-yard line and mainly consisted of run plays. The Irish ultimately got to the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal, but [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] lost a yard on a carry, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Backed up by their own end zone, the Knights went three-and-out for the third time in four drives. James Wagenseller’s punt only went for 32 yards, and Love carried the ball 41 yards over three plays for his second touchdown of the game.

Another Knights three-and-out followed, and Wagenseller’s ensuing punt went to midfield. After Leonard completed a 28-yard pass to [autotag]Kris Mitchell[/autotag], the Irish went with runs the rest of the drive, including one by Leonard that went for 13 yards and set the Irish up at first-and-goal. Leonard failed to score on two straight runs before handing it off to [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag] for a 2-yard touchdown.

Daily ran the ball 20 yards on the Knights’ first play from scrimmage, but [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] forced a fumble, which was recovered by [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag]. The Irish tried to add onto their lead right before halftime, but after a false start penalty, [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt as the clock hit zero.

Things are looking good for the Irish, but there’s half the game left.

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Mitchell Evans jumps it in

Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans cashed in a turnover.

No. 8 Notre Dame spent the end of the first half taking the ball away from the Virginia Cavaliers, and the Fighting Irish also scored off of those turnovers.

After [autotag]Leonard Moore [/autotag] took the ball away from Virginia, tight [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] caught a pass from Notre Dame quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard score.

That capped a 3-play, 32-yard drive that took 34 seconds off the clock.

The touchdown gave the Irish a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter.

Nov 9, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans (88) scores a touchdown against Florida State Seminoles linebacker Omar Graham Jr. (9) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Leonard Moore takes it away

Notre Dame continues to take the ball away against Virginia. The thief this time? Leonard Moore.

No. 8 Notre Dame feasted off of Virginia turnovers in the first half as the Fighting Irish host the Cavaliers.

Add freshman cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] to the list of ball thieves after he picked off an Anthony Colandrea pass with 1:35 left in the first half.

Moore made an athletic play, juggling a batted ball and bringing it in for the interception.

After a slow start to the game for both offenses, the Notre Dame offense has taken advantage of the turnovers caused by the Irish defense.

Notre Dame drops two spots in the AP Top 25 -- without even playing. — Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) intercepts a pass intended for Navy Midshipmen running back Eli Heidenreich (22) in front of linebacker Jack Kiser (24) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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