Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore is earning recognition for his impressive performances on the field, known not just for accumulating personal statistics, but for effectively disrupting opposing offenses. Moore, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 195 pounds, has drawn significant attention as he was named one of four finalists for the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors the top defensive player in college football. The winner will be revealed on December 8 during a banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Joining Moore in the finalist category are Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez. Notre Dame has celebrated previous winners of the award, such as linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012 and safety Xavier Watts in 2023, highlighting the school’s legacy in producing outstanding defensive talent.
In addition to the Nagurski Trophy, Moore’s accolades have been further bolstered this week with his nomination as a semifinalist for three other prestigious awards: the Lott Impact Trophy, the Bednarik Award, and the Thorpe Award, each recognizing exceptional defensive skills. Despite missing two games due to injury, Moore has recorded 25 tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Notably, he stands out as the only cornerback in the nation to rank in the top 10 for both interception rate allowed and first-down rate allowed.
Moore’s performance has coincided with a remarkable transformation of the Irish defense. After his mid-September injury, Notre Dame’s complete defensive unit surged from 103rd to 19th in pass efficiency defense and from 117th to 17th in scoring defense, demonstrating a significant turnaround in their defensive strategy and execution.
In another recognition, Notre Dame junior running back Jeremiyah Love has emerged as a contender for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the nation’s top running back. Historically, no Notre Dame athlete has won this award since its inception in 1990, with Love now being named one of 10 semifinalists. He is also a semifinalist for two Player of the Year awards—the Walter Camp Award and the Maxwell Award—bringing hope that the Irish could soon capture a title in this prestigious category.
Further enhancing Notre Dame’s reputation, senior punter James Rendell has also been recognized as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, awarded to the nation’s best punter. With an average of 44.1 yards over 20 punts this season and a net punting team ranking of 12th nationally at 42.6 yards, Rendell’s contributions are making a noteworthy impact on the team’s overall performance.
Lastly, head coach Marcus Freeman is a semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award, having won the accolade the previous season after guiding Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Freeman’s leadership continues to motivate players and elevate the team’s standing in college football.
Overall, these recognitions reflect Notre Dame’s robust talent and potential for continued success as they strive for excellence on the field this season.