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We're now 13 days away from the 2026 college football season kicking off in Week 0. Major outlets are cranking out their preseason award watch lists as well as their preseason All-America teams. ESPN released theirs this morning and two Notre Dame standouts were named to the first-team. Junior cornerback Leonard Moore and junior offensive guard Anthonie Knapp we both named by ESPN and are two of the players on the Fighting Irish roster who will do their part to engineer a title run. 

Anthonie Knapp, OG 

"Knapp was a Day 1 starter at left tackle for the Fighting Irish as a freshman in 2024 during their run to the national title game and already has 27 career starts under his belt," Eli Lederman and Max Olson of ESPN stated. "Now he's making the transition inside to left guard, a move that should highlight his toughness in the run game. The 6-5, 305-pound junior surrendered two sacks and had just four blown blocks in the run game for the Irish last season, according to ESPN Research."

The Georgia native has started 27 games for the Irish offense at left tackle but this offseason, he was moved inside to left guard, a position he projects to have the highest ceiling. Throughout the offseason, we've seen the 6-5, 305-pound guard make significant plays at his new position. If he has the season we believe he's capable of having, Knapp has the opportunity to be named an All-American by several of the five major outlets (FWAA, Sporting News, Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp). 

Leonard Moore, CB 

"Moore, a former three-star recruit, is the definition of a lockdown cornerback," Lederman and Olson raved. "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." 

Does it get any more obvious than Moore being named a first teamer? The Texas native is the consensus No. 1 overall cornerback in college football. Earlier this offseason, ESPN named him as the No. 1 overall defender in the nation ahead of other viable standouts. The 6-2, 197-pound corner is heading into his third, and likely final, season with the Fighting Irish and will play an integral role in Notre Dame's national title hopes. 

It's also worth noting that quarterback CJ Carr was named as an ESPN Preseason Second-Team All-American candidate. 

ESPN Preseason All-America Teams

First-Team: Offense

QB – Julian Sayin, Ohio State Buckeyes
RB – Kewan Lacey, Ole Miss Rebels
RB – Jaden Baugh, Florida Gators
WR – Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
WR – Cam Coleman, Texas Longhorns
TE – Terrance Carter, Texas Tech Red Raiders
OT – Trevor Goosby, Texas Longhorns
OT – Carter Smith, Indiana Hoosiers
OG – Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
OG – Kade Pieper, Iowa Hawkeyes
C – Drew Bobo, Georgia Bull Dogs
All-Purpose – Malachi Toney, Miami Hurricanes

First-Team: Defense

EDGE – Colin Simmons, Texas Longhorns
EDGE – Dylan Stewart, South Carolina Gamecocks
DT – Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami Hurricanes
DT – A'Mauri Washington, Oregon Ducks
LB – Rasheem Biles, Texas Longhorns
LB – Xavier Atkins, Auburn Tigers
LB – Sammy Brown, Clemson Tigers
CB – Leonard Moore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
CB – Brice Pollack, Texas Tech Red Raiders
S – KJ Bolden, Georgia Bulldogs
S – Ty Benefield, LSU Tigers

Second-Team: Offense

QB – CJ Carr, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
RB – Ahmad Hardy, Missouri Tigers
RB – Mark Fletcher, Miami Hurricanes
WR – Charlie Becker, Indiana Hoosiers
WR – Nick Marsh, Indiana Hoosiers
TE – Trey'Dez Green, LSU Tigers
OT – Jordan Seaton, LSU Tigers
OT – Trevor Lauck, Iowa Hawkeyes
OG – Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati Bearcats
OG – Greg Johnson, Minnesota Golden Gophers
C – Iapani Laloulu, Oregon Ducks
All-Purpose – J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech Red Raiders

Second-Team: Defense

EDGE – Anthony Smith, Minnesota Golden Gophers
EDGE – John Henry-Daley, Michigan Wolverines
DT – Will Echoles, Ole Miss Rebels
DT – AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech Red Raiders 
LB – Rolijah Hardy, Indiana Hoosiers
LB – Kip Lewis, Oklahoma Sooners
LB – Whit Weeks, LSU Tigers
CB – Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon Ducks
CB – Kelley Jones, Mississippi State Bulldogs 
S – Amare Ferrell, Indiana Hoosiers
S – Bray Hubbard, Alabama Crimson Tide 

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