Notre Dame boasts four of ESPN’s top 100 college football players entering 2025
When the Notre Dame football program takes the field against Miami on Aug. 31, it’ll feature four of the top 100 players in college football — at least according to ESPN projections.
On Wednesday, five ESPN college football reporters — David Hale, Adam Rittenberg, Chris Low, Paolo Uggetti and Bill Connelly — ranked the top 100 players ahead of the 2025 season. All four of the Fighting Irish standouts landed within the top 80. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 76 — sophomore offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp
Notre Dame’s starting left tackle was one of 17 sophomores and 12 offensive linemen to make the list. No offensive lineman ranked higher than Knapp, who was the No. 271 overall prospect and No. 19 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 recruiting class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Hale noted Knapp stepped in for redshirt sophomore Charles Jagusah last season and allowed only three sacks. He returns at left tackle this season after starting 15 games and playing 843 snaps.
No. 41 — junior cornerback Christian Gray
Much like Gray himself, ESPN’s experts didn’t let the fact that Jeremiah Smith — the No. 1 overall player on the list — beat him for a touchdown in the national championship overshadow his résumé as one of the nation’s top defensive backs.
The 6-foot, 190-pound St. Louis standout slotted fifth among defensive backs. His ranking comes after a true sophomore season in which he recorded seven pass breakups and three interceptions in 15 starts.
No. 13 — sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore
One of the defensive backs ranked ahead of Gray was Moore, the top-rated defensive back on ESPN’s list. The 6-2, 195-pound Round Rock (Texas) High product has made eight preseason All-America teams this offseason and is widely regarded as the best cornerback in college football.
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The only sophomores ranked higher than Moore were Smith and Texas’ Colin Simmons (No. 11) and South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart (No. 10), a pair of SEC edge rushers.
Moore’s breakout came after he replaced an injured Gray against Louisville and then started the rest of the way in place of Benjamin Morrison, who was lost for the season with a hip injury. As a freshman, Moore tallied seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
No. 5 — junior running back Jeremiyah Love
ESPN left no doubt about who the nation’s top running back is entering the season, slotting Love at No. 5 overall. He was also the second-highest offensive skill player, trailing only Smith.
Love broke out in 2024 with his highlight-reel hurdles and determined touchdown runs. He finished his sophomore campaign with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 163 carries, while adding 28 receptions for 237 yards and two more scores. His production and placement on this list make him a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate.