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Newsstand: Notre Dame corner Leonard Moore named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list

IMG_9992by: Tyler Horka05/29/25tbhorka
Leonard Moore
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. (Michael Clubb, South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore was named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list on Wednesday. The award annually recognizes college football’s best defensive player in character and performance.

Moore was the Football Writers Association of America Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. He was a Freshman All-American per a plethora of national outlets, too, including FWAA, ESPN, The Athletic and Pro Football Focus.

Moore started 10 of 16 games, making his starting debut in late September in place of the injured Christian Gray. Then Benjamin Morrison went down with a season-ending injury, and Moore never looked back. He started every game thereafter through the national championship game, and he became one of the Irish’s best defensive players in the process.

Moore had 48 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He was the only freshman in the country to record 5 pass breakups in a single game.

Manti Te’o is the only winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy from Notre Dame. It was first awarded in 2004.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

The Westbeld sisters faced off in the WNBA earlier this week.

Marcus Freeman is a top-five coach in college football, according to The Sporting News.

Fighting Irish quote of the day

“Freeman makes a huge jump after leading the Irish to the CFP championship game in 2024 – and we are not second-guessing this call. Freeman has delivered 24 wins in the last two seasons – and the bounce-back from the Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois last season showed the ability to hold a team together. The Irish were 7-1 against top-25 teams last season – with the lone loss coming to the Buckeyes.”

— The Sporting News’ Bill Bender on Marcus Freeman’s rise as a head coach

Blue & Gold headlines of the day

• Notre Dame football opponent transfer portal overview: Syracuse (Week 13)
• Elite CB Khary Adams has a commitment date in mind with official visits around the corner
• Elite 2027 QB Malachi Zeigler to compete at Notre Dame camp

• 10 Notre Dame football recruiting targets have commitment dates set ahead of official visits
• Scoop: Florida State commit locks in Notre Dame summer visit
• Alister Vallejo update: The latest on key Notre Dame DL target ahead of commitment date

• Lucky Charms: Major updates on Notre Dame defensive line targets
• Notre Dame men’s basketball reveals 2025-26 ACC home, away opponents
• Lone Star State WR Kohen Brown includes Notre Dame football in top eight





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