Notre Dame Star Cornerback Leonard Moore Earns Prestigious Sporting News Preseason First Team All-American Honors Ahead of 2025 Season

Notre Dame’s defense just added another stripe to its already elite reputation. Leonard Moore, the Fighting Irish’s standout cornerback, has been named to the Sporting News Preseason First Team All-American, marking yet another milestone in his fast-rising college football career. The honor cements Moore as one of the premier defensive backs in the country and raises the ceiling for what many expect to be a defining season for both Moore and Notre Dame.

Moore, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior, emerged as a lockdown corner in 2024, and national recognition has followed swiftly ever since. While Notre Dame has always produced NFL-caliber defenders, Moore’s recent accolade places him in rarified air, joining the likes of Julian Love, Kyle Hamilton, and Manti Te’o as Irish defenders to garner preseason All-American distinction in recent memory.

The Sporting News, one of the five NCAA-recognized selectors for All-America teams, is known for its stringent criteria and historic prestige. For Moore to be chosen as a First Team Preseason All-American by such a publication underscores the level of trust analysts and scouts have in his on-field performance, growth potential, and leadership heading into the 2025 campaign.

Moore’s journey to the national spotlight began well before arriving in South Bend. A four-star recruit out of Round Rock, Texas, Moore was known for his sharp instincts, press coverage skills, and aggressive play style. He quickly adapted to the college game, seeing rotational snaps as a freshman before bursting onto the scene in 2024 as a sophomore starter. That year, he tallied 4 interceptions, 13 pass deflections, and 42 total tackles, often matching up against opponents’ top wideouts and blanketing entire sides of the field.

More than the numbers, it was Moore’s consistency in high-pressure moments that separated him from his peers. In key games against Clemson, Ohio State, and USC, Moore showcased elite ball skills, fluid hips, and impressive closing speed. His ability to anticipate routes and make plays on the ball earned the trust of defensive coordinator Al Golden and head coach Marcus Freeman, both of whom repeatedly praised Moore’s football IQ and competitive edge.

“Leonard is everything you want in a modern cornerback,” Freeman said earlier this summer during Notre Dame’s media availability. “He’s physical, smart, a great communicator, and he’s always studying—always improving. That honor from Sporting News is well-deserved, and I think it’s just the beginning.”

For Moore, the accolades come second to winning. During a recent interview at Notre Dame’s summer training camp, he remained focused on the team’s goals, deflecting praise and instead speaking about what the defense must do to contend for a national title.

“I’m grateful to be recognized,” Moore said, “but at the end of the day, all that matters is what we do on the field every Saturday. We’ve got a lot to prove, and I want to be the guy my teammates can count on—whether it’s locking down a top receiver or making a key tackle.”

With Moore returning to anchor the secondary, Notre Dame’s defense projects as one of the top units in the nation. The Irish finished the 2024 season ranked top-10 nationally in total defense, and with Moore back patrolling the boundary, there’s confidence the unit can take an even bigger step forward in 2025. Alongside returning starters like safety Xavier Watts and linebacker Jaylen Sneed, Moore’s presence will be critical in navigating a daunting schedule that includes road matchups at Texas A&M and Florida State.

NFL scouts have also taken notice. Moore is widely projected as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft should he choose to declare early. His blend of size, speed, and coverage versatility makes him an ideal fit for modern pro defenses, and the preseason All-American nod will only increase the spotlight on him this fall. Analysts have compared Moore’s game to that of former Pro Bowlers like Marshon Lattimore and Jaire Alexander—long, fluid, and fearless.

Sporting News’ preseason All-American list is often predictive of postseason success. In the past five years, nearly 70% of its First Team selections have gone on to be named to postseason All-American teams or selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. Moore’s inclusion is more than symbolic—it’s a signal that expectations are sky-high, and that he’s viewed as one of the true elite defenders in all of college football.

Those expectations are not a burden for Moore—they’re fuel.

“I love the pressure,” he said. “That’s what makes Notre Dame special. We embrace the spotlight, we don’t run from it. It’s about legacy here, and I want mine to be remembered as someone who gave it everything for this school, this program, and this team.”

Indeed, legacy is something Moore thinks about often. He has become a vocal leader in the locker room, mentoring younger defensive backs and setting the standard in the film room and weight room. Teammates speak of his relentless work ethic and quiet confidence. During spring practices, Moore was often the first on the field and the last to leave, refining his footwork, hand placement, and coverage angles with defensive backs coach Mike Mickens.

That dedication is paying off.

Sporting News’ senior analyst Bill Bender noted Moore’s discipline and coverage versatility as major reasons he was selected.

“When you watch Leonard Moore’s tape, you see a corner who can do it all—press, zone, off-man. He’s physical at the line, but patient and instinctive. He’s a true technician with the confidence to play on an island. Notre Dame’s defense is in good hands with him out there,” Bender said.

With preseason camps now in full swing, Moore and the Irish are preparing for a pivotal 2025 season. The bar is high, as it always is in South Bend. Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988, but with Marcus Freeman’s program continuing to attract elite talent and build defensive depth, this year feels like a critical window. Moore’s leadership and elite play will be central to those aspirations.

Notre Dame opens its season at home against Michigan State on August 30, and Moore is expected to shadow the Spartans’ top receiver throughout. Early season matchups against Purdue, North Carolina, and a late September showdown with Texas A&M will offer immediate tests for Moore and the defense.

For now, though, the Sporting News honor offers a moment of recognition—both for the player and the program. Leonard Moore’s name now sits among the best in the country. And if his rise continues, it won’t be the last time he hears it.

As the 2025 season approaches, one thing is clear: Leonard Moore isn’t just a name to watch. He’s a name to remember.

And if everything goes to plan for the Fighting Irish, he might soon be a name written into Notre Dame football lore.