When Notre Dame kicked off the 2024 football season, it was widely believed to have one of the best secondaries in the country, thanks in large part to experienced players like cornerback Benjamin Morrison, safety Xavier Watts, and nickel back Jordan Clark.
Among Notre Dame recruiting enthusiasts, Leonard Moore was a recognizable name, though his potential impact and playing time as a freshman remained uncertain.
By early April 2025, however, Moore had emerged as a standout. After Morrison’s injury in early October thrust him into a starting role, Moore has now been recognized by Pro Football Focus as college football’s top returning cornerback.
According to Pro Football Focus:
“Since PFF launched its top returning players series in 2020, only seven rising true sophomores have topped their position groups. This year, three of those seven earned the distinction, including Moore. In his debut season, Moore ranked as the third-most-valuable corner in college football per PFF’s wins above average metric, behind only Jahdae Barron and Travis Hunter.
He thrived in Notre Dame’s man-coverage scheme, posting an 82.5 grade in man coverage—third-best among all corners nationwide. Standing at 6-foot-2, the former three-star recruit is a fluid athlete who already excels at shadowing receivers. In single coverage, he allowed just 16 of 42 targets to be completed.” – Max Chadwick, PFF
Being named the top player at his position is a remarkable feat, but Moore’s inclusion among the elite seven rising sophomores singled out by Pro Football Focus since 2020—alongside names like Derek Stingley, Jr., Tank Bigsby, Brock Bowers, Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Smith, and Collin Simmons—elevates the achievement even further.
Last season, Moore led Notre Dame with 11 pass breakups. Now, as a sophomore, he’s poised to be one of the defensive cornerstones for the Fighting Irish heading into the upcoming season.
Nick Shepkowski’s Quick Take:
Notre Dame’s knack for recruiting and cultivating top-tier secondary talent remains evident. In past years, the Fighting Irish often boasted a standout defensive back, but the unit as a whole lacked depth. However, when Moore took over as a full-time starter last season after Morrison’s injury, the defense didn’t falter—even with a potential first-round NFL draft pick (pre-injury) out of the lineup.
With Moore back in the fold, joined by safety Adon Shuler and corner Christian Gray, this secondary is once again primed for a strong season, despite losing key players like Morrison, Watts, and Clark.
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