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Notre Dame injury update: Two starters upgraded to probable for Arkansas; Leonard Moore remains questionable

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble09/25/25jacksoble56
devonta smith
Notre Dame nickel back DeVonta Smith. (Mike Miller, Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame nickel back DeVonta Smith (right ankle) and kicker Noah Burnette (right hip) are probable for Week 5 at Arkansas, according to the team’s official injury update.

Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore (right ankle) remains questionable. All three missed Notre Dame’s Week 3 win over Purdue.

Additionally, reserve defensive end and core special teamer Preston Zinter suffered a concussion during practice this week and is out for the Arkansas game. Zinter leads the Irish with 76 special teams snaps through three games, 19 ahead of second place.

Smith injured his ankle during pregame warmups ahead of Week 3 against Texas A&M, missing the next two games as a result. In his place, redshirt freshman cornerback Karson Hobbs was targeted 13 times on 35 coverage snaps and allowed 6 receptions for 107 yards. Following that night, Hobbs moved outside and true freshman Dallas Golden became Smith’s primary backup at nickel. Golden performed well, allowing 3 receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown but also intercepting a pass.

Smith, a transfer from Alabama, was targeted twice during his Notre Dame debut in Week 1. He made a solo tackle and allowed 1 reception for 7 yards.

A transfer from North Carolina, Burnette has been perfect so far in a blue-and-gold uniform. He’s 3-of-3 on field goals and 4-of-4 on extra points, with a long of 39 yards. True freshman Erik Schmidt kicked in his place in Week 4 at Purdue, making each of his extra-point attempts but hooking his lone field-goal attempt to the left from 31 yards out.

With Thursday’s news, it looks like Burnette’s injury will not be a long-term issue like former Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter‘s was last year.

Moore went down during the second quarter of Notre Dame’s 41-40 loss to Texas A&M in Week 3, when junior linebacker Drayk Bowen collided with his right leg. The 6-foot-2 corner from Round Rock, Texas was lucky to avoid a catastrophic injury, given the nature of the collision.

Fortunately for the Irish, he returned after 3 snaps and intercepted Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed a short time later. However, he missed Week 4 at Purdue and could miss his second-straight game against Arkansas.

After a hiccup in Week 1, when he got beat on a double move for a touchdown, Moore returned to his Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and preseason All-American form against the Aggies. He finished with a 90.8 Pro Football Focus coverage grade, and he only allowed 1 reception for 11 yards on 4 targets.

Moore’s interception showcased his brilliance as a cover corner, playing perfect bump-and-run technique and turning to face the football at the perfect time.

With Moore out last week, the Irish moved junior Christian Gray to the boundary and elevated true freshman Mark Zackery IV to the starting lineup at field cornerback. Purdue went after Zackery for 6 receptions on 8 targets, resulting in 93 yards and a touchdown.

If Moore comes back, though, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has entertained the possibility of abandoning the boundary/field model and having him shadow the opponent’s best receiver.

“He’s as good as I’ve been around at that position,” Freeman said. “We’ve had discussions. If we need to match him up with the best wide receiver no matter where he’s at, we will.”

Notre Dame and Arkansas kick off at noon ET (11 a.m. local time) on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.