Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534445
26 MAY 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY JACK SOBLE L ast year at this time, Leonard Moore was anonymous. He was not a heralded recruit, listed as a three-star prospect and the No. 431 overall player in the On3 Industry Ranking. He received little in- terest from top-tier football programs aside from Notre Dame. He was as un- known as a starting cornerback for the Irish could get. As a result, teams thought they could take advantage of him. Moore was targeted seven times in his first start against Louisville. He was targeted nine times in his second start against Georgia Tech. He then had a four-week break against two triple-option offenses and two train- wreck passing attacks. But in his next two games against USC and Indiana, he was targeted 10 and seven times, respectively. Suffice it to say, Moore won't face that challenge in 2025. "Everybody knows about me," Moore said. "I'm not a freshman no more." In the latter set of two games in which Moore was bombarded by opposing quar- terbacks, he allowed just 4 receptions on 17 targets. He did it with speed, he did it with physicality and he did it with length. Notre Dame fans saw him turn into a lock-down cornerback as the Irish made a run at the national championship. BACK FOR MORE BACK FOR MORE Led by superstar cornerback Leonard Moore, Notre Dame's sophomore class can reach new heights in Year 2