Rising Notre Dame Football Star Named Top Freshman in Week 9 Honors

Fighting Irish CB Leonard Moore continues to blossom in his first season in South Bend.

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) intercepts a pass intended for Navy Midshipmen running back Eli Heidenreich (22) in front of linebacker Jack Kiser (24) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Since Notre Dame's star CB Benjamin Morrison was lost for the season, Leonard Moore has made the most of his opportunity for increased playing time.

The true freshman from Round Rock, Tex. has started three of the last four games, getting increasingly comfortable on one of the nation's top defensive units.

Moore excelled in run defense against Louisville and Georgia Tech, making seven tackles in each of those wins. In this past weekend's game with Navy, he picked off his first career pass while earning one of the highest PFF grades among true freshmen in Week 9.

Highest Graded Freshman Players from Week 9⭐️ pic.twitter.com/QHBHBAZUGM

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 28, 2024

While impressive, Moore's rapid ascent has not been a big surprise; at least not to those who followed him closely in the preseason.

Moore had a great camp and always seemed to be around the ball. He had the length, ball skills, maturity, and smarts to play right away, but the secondary was so deep and experienced before the season and reps were limited.

However, the Irish have been hit so hard by injuries on the back end that the rookie forced into action. And he has been up to the challenge, both at field corner and boundary corner.

Like Morrison before him, Moore is all business, and that's being reflected in how well he's played at such an early stage of his career.

Two things you can count on from Leonard Moore in his second career start and as a starter moving forward are anticipation and tackling. The Notre Dame CB gets to ball carriers and brings them down. Rare consistency for a freshman.

"He's going to be a good one for a long time." pic.twitter.com/gKzRmS2yU6

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) October 18, 2024

Moore and Notre Dame are off this week before returning to action Nov. 2 with a visit from Florida State.

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