SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore has been named a finalist for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which honors college football’s top defensive player.
Moore is the fifth Notre Dame finalist for the Nagurski Trophy in program history, joining safety Xavier Watts (2023), linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020), linebacker Manti Te’o (2012) and cornerback Shane Walton (2002). Watts and Te’o are Notre Dame’s two previous winners of the Nagurski Trophy.
Moore is also a semifinalist for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award, also honoring the top defensive player in college football, the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy, which recognizes the nation’s top defensive player who makes an impact on and off the field, and the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football’s top defensive back.
Moore has made a statement thus far in the 2025 season, earning seven midseason first-team All-America honors, including by The Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Athlon Sports.
Because of his lockdown abilities, Moore has only been targeted by opposing quarterbacks on 10.6 percent of passing plays in which he was on the field. For every reception he has allowed this season, he has posted 14.4 coverage snaps.
In just eight games played this season, Moore has posted three interceptions. Moore is the only cornerback in the nation to rank in the Top 10 in both INT rate allowed and first-down rate allowed. Among starting Power 4 cornerbacks, Moore ranks second in INT rate (nine percent), fourth in Pro Football Focus coverage grade and defense grade (88.8 and 86.8) and 10th in first-down rate (10 percent).
Moore, in addition to his three interceptions this season, has posted six passes defended, 25 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in just eight games played. With Moore’s help, Notre Dame ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (17), 10th in turnover margin (0.90), 13th in rushing defense (99.3), 15th in sacks (2.80), 17th in scoring defense (18.4) and 19th in team passing efficiency defense (112.76).
Two of Moore’s interceptions came in the same game vs. Boise State, a career-best performance. For his performance that week, he was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week. He became the first Notre Dame player to have multiple interceptions in the same game since 2023 (Xavier Watts). The 2024 FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Moore entered the 2025 season with several accolades, as he was named to the Preseason All-America First Team lists by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, the Associated Press, The Athletic, ESPN, CBS Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He has also been named to patch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
