24 PRESEASON 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED
BY JACK SOBLE AND TYLER HORKA
F
or the first time since 2021, a
quarterback does not lead Blue &
Gold Illustrated's list of the top 25
most important Notre Dame
football players.
That's because for the first time since
Kyle Hamilton patrolled the secondary,
the Irish have a player who transcends
positional value. By a tight margin —
just six voting points — junior running
back Jeremiyah Love is Notre Dame's
most important player. That's accord-
ing to a poll of seven BGI staff members.
Love earned four out of seven first-
place votes. He is the rare running back
who elevates his team far more than an
average "good" player at his position.
Also receiving first-place votes were
sophomore quarterback CJ Carr, whom
our staff expects to win the starting job,
and budding superstar sophomore cor-
nerback Leonard Moore.
This list is not necessarily ranking the
best players or the top NFL prospects;
it's the most important players. Voters
considered talent, impact, place on the
depth chart and positional value, but a
premium is placed on these two ques-
25 25
FOR FOR
25 25
These are BGI's top 25
most important
Notre Dame players
of 2025
