Tag: Leonard Moore

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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Notre Dame vs. Virginia: Second-Quarter Analysis

This quarter lasted over an hour and was quite crazy.

If you were hoping for more action between Notre Dame and Virginia in the second quarter, you would have gotten some. In a quarter that lasted over an hour in real time, the Irish had one crazy moment after another, and it ended with them holding a 28-0 halftime lead.

Both teams continued to struggle offensively for the first few minutes. After [autotag]Max Hurleman[/autotag] muffed a punt and the Cavaliers recovered, the Irish’s 7-0 lead appeared to be in jeopardy. But the Irish took the ball right back a few plays later when [autotag]Rod Heard II[/autotag] forced a Kobe Pace fumble that was recovered by [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag].

The difference between the two turnovers is that the Irish took advantage. Their offense had its most productive drive of the day, and it culminated when [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] hit [autotag]Jayden Harrison[/autotag] for an 8-yard touchdown.

On the next possession, Leonard fired another apparent touchdown pass to Harrison from 78 yards out, but it was wiped out when [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] was penalized for illegal hands to the face.

Another apparent touchdown then was wiped out after a very confusing sequence. Faced with fourth-and-11, the Irish opted to fake a punt and try a fumblerooski, and [autotag]Jordan Faison[/autotag] ran the ball 73 yards to the house. However, the officials called it back for illegal formation, much to the chagrin of the Notre Dame Stadium fans and the NBC announcers.

But that touchdown was dying to be scored, and it finally was after [autotag]Adon Shuler[/autotag] returned an interception 46 yards and Leonard immediately faked a handoff before firing to an open [autotag]Cooper Flanagan[/autotag] in the end zone from 2 yards out.

The Irish weren’t finished though. Anthony Colandrea threw another interception, this one to [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag]. On the final of three subsequent passes, [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] had a 16-yard touchdown.

Colandrea kept feeling generous though because Watts picked off another one of his passes in the waning seconds of the quarter. Although [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] missed a 54-yard field goal as time expired, the Irish still deserved a rest in the locker room after everything that had just happened.

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Is Loghan Thomas playing today? Injury updates for Notre Dame defensive lineman

Notre Dame defensive lineman Loghan Thomas is dealing with a right hamstring injury. Here are the latest updates.

Defensive lineman [autotag]Loghan Thomas[/autotag] is out for the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight against the Florida State Seminoles.

The freshman is sidelined with a right hamstring injury.

Notre Dame has listed all other student-athletes on the two-deep roster as available. That makes us wonder if kicker [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] is finally ready to play as he deals with a hip injury.

The Fighting Irish also return freshman cornerback Tae Johnson as the backup to [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag]. [autotag]Karon Hobbs[/autotag], who was in that spot last week, is now the backup nickel corner to [autotag]Jordan Clark[/autotag].

Otherwise, the Irish are getting healthier, though key players such as [autotag]Jordan Botelho[/autotag] are out for the season.

Notre Dame injury update

Notre Dame will be without Loghan Thomas this week, and [autotag]Jason Onye[/autotag] remains out for personal reasons.

How long will Loghan Thomas be out?

It is unclear how long Thomas will be out beyond this week.

Notre Dame defensive lineman depth chart

Thomas’ loss will be felt, but the Irish still have a deep defensive line. Thomas was already listed at third on the depth chart for the Vyper pass-rushing position behind [autotag]Joshua Burnham[/autotag] and [autotag]Junior Tuihalamaka[/autotag].

Marcus Freeman updates Mitch Jeter, Tae Johnson & more injuries
Sep 28, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough (9) is hit as he throws by Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Loghan Thomas (10) in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore named as a top freshman performer of Week 9

Moore has had a fantastic freshman season

Notre Dame football has had some amazing depth at the cornerback position over the last few years, and it looks that that won’t be ending anytime soon.

When star cornerback Benjamin Morrison was ruled out the remainder of the season with an injury, head coach Marcus Freeman named [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] as a player that was going to have to step up.

Not only has he done that, he’s done it at an extremely high level. When Pro Football Focus looked back at the graded for true freshman during Week 9, Moore was named as one of its top performers.

It wasn’t due to his tackling numbers, more his coverage, as he was credited with just one tackle against Navy, but did have an interception. In limited time this fall, Moore has been a surprisingly great player in the Irish secondary, as his future is extremely bright.

Leonard Moore comes up big against Navy.
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore catches a ball during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 9 highlight: Leonard Moore intercepts one in the end zone

Notre Dame gets a big interception from Leonard Moore.

Notre Dame is starting to really put its matchup with No. 24 Navy away, thanks to Leonard Moore.

The No. 12 Fighting Irish killed a Navy drive when Midshipmen quarterback Blake Horvath threw towards the end zone on fourth down and 7 from the Notre Dame 17.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore was able to snag the ball for a touchback.

The Fighting Irish are keeping their playoff argument strong for yet another week, while the previously undefeated Midshipmen are probably going to drop out of the rankings.

Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks (1) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown with Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) defending during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Louisville at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend.

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Social media reacts to Notre Dame scoring three first-quarter touchdowns

Try and keep up with this.

(This story was updated to correct a typo).

Notre Dame had as bad a start as it could against Louisville, fumbling the opening kickoff and giving up an early touchdown. Many fans had to think this was the beginning of a long day in South Bend. Fortunately, the Irish showed they aren’t going to give up that easily.

When the Irish’s offense finally did take the field, it came out looking ready to play. Led by [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag], the Irish ran an equal amount of runs and passes, moving the ball almost every time. It culminated in a 6-yard touchdown run by [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] that tied the game at 7.

The game didn’t stay tied for long though. After the Cardinals got the ball back, they appeared to get an opening when Tyler Shough ran 46 yards into the Irish territory. However, [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] knocked the ball out of his hand, and [autotag]Jaiden Ausberry[/autotag] pounced on the fumble.

The Irish took advantage of that when Leonard hit [autotag]Jaden Greathouse[/autotag] for a 34-yard touchdown, giving them their first lead.

Then, the Irish knocked the ball further down field on a botched punt snap, setting themselves up only 4 yards from the goal line. Leonard immediately punched the ball in to give the Irish a 21-7 lead.

If you somehow have kept up with all of that to this point, here are some of the reactions we found on social media regarding that action-packed first quarter:

Notre Dame Week 5 highlight: Leonard Moore forced fumble averts disaster

Notre Dame fumble recovery swings momentum against Lousville.

Shortly after Notre Dame tied the game at 7, the Louisville Cardinals appeared to have a big play when quarterback Tyler Shough had a 46-yard run. But cornerback Leonard Moore and safety Xavier Watts hit him and Moore forced a fumble, recovered by Jaiden Ausberry.

That got the Irish the ball back in good field position — and shut down what appeared to be a promising drive for the Cardinals.

Instead, the Irish were in a solid position to score. Notre Dame’s defense is a strength of the team, and it showed on this play.

 

 

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Benjamin Morrison believes this Notre Dame freshman will be better than him

Wouldn’t that be something

Since it’s becoming more common for high school seniors to enroll at their college destinations early, programs like Notre Dame football get an opportunity for its upperclassmen to see how good the freshman are.

For All-American candidate [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag], one player has stood out to him during his short tenure in South Bend:[autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag]. The soon-to-be early entry NFL draft prospect shared his thoughts with Jack Soble on the Texas native saying he “will be better than I will be here. He’s a special kid.”

The Irish have made it a habit of finding lower ranked players and developing them into quality players. The offensive line might have one from the 2024 class, and it looks like the secondary does as well.

Moore had a solid ranking coming out of high school. He was the No. 430 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite. None of that matters now; he is showing his teammates and likely the coaching staff he belongs.

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Another Notre Dame football commit shines on basketball court

The Irish are recruiting not just football players, but impressive athletes

It’s not just Notre Dame commits that are making waves on the basketball court, it’s also Irish signees.

We highlighted 2025 quarterback commit Deuce Knight having a personal slam dunk contest, but 2024 signee [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] said “hold my beer.”

The 6-foot, 2-inch and 175-pound corner also showed off his elite athleticism with a warmup dunk for his Round Rock high school team. Moore was ranked as one of the top Notre Dame signees, ranking as the No. 33 corner and 392nd overall recruit according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame will have to wait until the fall for Moore to begin his career, as he isn’t one of the signees who will enroll early.

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