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Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore named FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•about 9 hours•

ByKyleKelly

Leonard Moore
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

There wasn’t a better freshman defender than Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore in college football this season. At least, that’s what Football Writers Association of America voters say.

On Wednesday, the FWAA selected Moore as Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. He is the first Fighting Irish player to win the award since its inception in 2018.

Last year, the FWAA began honoring offensive and defensive players. And this year, they added a specialist to the list. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser won the offense and special teams Freshman of the Year awards, respectively.

Moore, Sellers and Hauser join former Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (2018), Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell (2019), Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (2020), Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (2021), North Carolina QB Drake Maye (2022), Arizona QB Noah Fifita and Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman (2023).

A product of Round Rock (Texas) High, the 6-foot-2, 191-pound Moore has appeared in 14 games for the Fighting Irish this season, starting in nine outings. He has accounted for 43 tackles (29 solo), 2 stops for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 10 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. 

Moore’s first start came in relief for an injured Christian Gray on Sept. 28 against Louisville. Then, he took over for preseason All-American Benjamin Morrison, who Irish coach Marcus Freeman ruled out for the season after the Stanford game Oct. 12. Moore has primarily played boundary cornerback. 

He is Notre Dame’s first freshman All-America cornerback since Morison earned those honors after the 2022 season. Moore and Morrison had comparable first-years in college. 

During Morrison’s freshman campaign, he surrendered 22 catches for 296 yards and 1 touchdown on 51 targets in 13 games. Meanwhile, Moore has only given up 23 receptions for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns on 52 targets in one more game. 

Few could have projected such a fast rise to stardom for Moore.  Morrison was one of them. Before the season, he projected Moore would finish his Notre Dame career among the elite. 

“This might be a stretch, but Leonard Moore will be better than I will be here,” Morrison said. “He’s a special kid.”

Freeman had a hunch during Moore’s recruitment. 

“I remember doing a home (recruiting) visit with (defensive backs) Coach (Mike) Mickens at (Moore’s) house,” Freeman said. “We spent some time with his mother and father, who are just some of the brightest individuals I’ve ever been around.” 

“I think all those things helped him develop into the football player he is today. He has God-given ability — athleticism. But he’s a very competitive individual. I think he helped expedite the process of getting to where he is now.” 

Moore was the No. 66 player in Texas, No. 42 cornerback nationally and No. 431 overall player in 2024. The three-star prospect also held scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, California, Duke, Houston, Kansas State, Missouri, Oregon, TCU and Vanderbilt. 

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