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Notre Dame standout sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore was named a 1st team All-American by On3. Moore put together an outstanding season and built upon his outstanding true freshman campaign in 2024. After his output this season, Moore was named as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the LOTT Impact Trophy which recognizes the nation's top defensive player who makes an impact on and off the field. 

The 6-2, 195-pound cornerback finished the season with 31 total tackles, five interceptions which led the team, seven passes defended which was second on the team, a pick six, and a forced fumble. He remained a solid tackler in the secondary only missing six tackles the entire season and only allowed three receiving touchdowns all season long. Moore's performance this season played a major role in the defense's overall turnaround after the first three games. 

Halfway through the regular season, Moore was already at the forefront of college football defensive backs and earned seven midseason 1st team All-American honors including by the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated Pro Football Focus and Athlon Sports. What makes this all the more impressive was the fact that Moore missed two games prior to the mid-season All-American lists coming out. He was that dominant in his performances against Texas A&M, Boise State, NC State and USC. 

The Texas native ranked 1st among all starting Power 4 cornerbacks in coverage grade (91.4) and 1st in overall defensive grades (90.9) according to PFF. Teams were well aware of Moore's abilities in coverage and was only targeted 11.5 percent of the coverage snaps he played. Notre Dame finished the season No. 1 in the country in total interceptions (21) with their star, standout cornerback hauling in five of them. Moore continued to stack performance after performance and was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week for his performance against Boise State where he finished with two interceptions, his career high.

The fact that Moore has to return to the college game next season is ridiculous and he's expected to be the No. 1 cornerback in the country next season. I believed he had that title entering this season after being named the 2024 FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and was named the No. 1 returning cornerback in college football by numerous outlets including PFF, CBS Sports, ESPN and the Associated Press. Moore will look to continue his dominance in 2026, which will likely be his final year at the collegiate level. Notre Dame has strung together outstanding cornerback play under Mike Mickens and Moore might be the best amongst them. 

On3 1st Team All-American Defense

Defensive End – David Bailey, Texas Tech
Defensive Tackle – Kayden McDonald, Ohio State 
Defensive Tackle – Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
Defensive End – Caden Curry, Ohio State 
Linebacker – Arvell Reese, Ohio State 
Linebacker – Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Linebacker – CJ Allen, Georgia
Cornerback – Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Cornerback – Mansoor Delane, LSU
Safety – Caleb Downs, Ohio State 
Safety – Louis Moore, Indiana 

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