Notre Dame news: Leonard Moore an easy pick for ESPN's Preseason All-America team
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Leonard Moore garnered high approval as one of the best defenders in college football going into the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s 2026 campaign.
Moore is preparing for the third season of his collegiate career with the Fighting Irish. He took over the starting job midway through 2024 and never looked back, being a full-time starter the following season.
Notre Dame has national championship expectations with the talent it has on the roster, including Moore. Which is why ESPN’s Eli Lederman and Max Olson named Moore as one of their preseason All-American players at the national level.
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“Moore, a former three-star recruit, is the definition of a lockdown cornerback. A unanimous All-American in 2025, Moore allowed 30 or more yards in a game just once last fall while playing the second-most snaps in press coverage (186) of any FBS defensive back. An even better illustration of his dominance: Fellow Irish starting cornerback Christian Gray was targeted 62 times last fall — nearly double Moore’s count of 33 — after opposing teams simply stopped throwing in Moore’s direction,” Lederman and Olson wrote.
What lies ahead for Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Leonard Moore has a big season ahead of him with NFL projections within his reach. As a star cornerback, he will look to maximize his talents throughout the 2026 season for Notre Dame.
Moore played in 10 out of 12 games for the Fighting Irish. He made 31 tackles, seven pass deflections, five interceptions, one forced fumble, and a touchdown from one of his five picks.
The Fighting Irish finished last season with a 10-2 record, missing out on making the College Football Playoff. The team did receive an invitation to the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl; however, the team announced in early December that they would be withdrawing their name from bowl game consideration.
Notre Dame gets the 2026 campaign underway on the road. They take on the Wisconsin Badgers as kickoff commences on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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