AP names two Notre Dame players to preseason All-America first team

On Monday, Jeremiyah Love and Leonard Moore added more accolades to their résumés ahead of the 2025 football season. Notre Dame football’s star junior running back and shutdown sophomore cornerback both claimed spots on the Associated Press preseason All-America first team.

Love and Moore were two of 27 players recognized on the first team. Only Penn State and Texas, with three each, had more honorees than the Irish. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Pittsburgh also placed two players on the first team.

The AP preseason All-America selections are noteworthy because they set the stage for more prestigious honors later in the year. The Associated Press, Sporting News, Walter Camp, AFCA and FWAA are the outlets used to determine consensus and unanimous All-Americans at season’s end.

Earlier this summer, The Sporting News and Walter Camp also named Love and Moore to their preseason All-America teams. The AFCA and FWAA do not publish preseason teams.

Beyond the outlets that count toward consensus and unanimous status, Athlon Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, Phil Steele and The Athletic also featured Love and Moore as preseason first-team All-Americans.

Along with those accolades, both players have been on three award watch lists this summer.

Love was named to the Maxwell and Walter Camp Award watch lists, both recognizing college football’s most outstanding player, as well as the Doak Walker Award list for the nation’s top running back. Moore earned spots on the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski watch lists, which honor the best defensive player, and the Jim Thorpe Award list for the top defensive back.

Their preseason distinctions follow pivotal roles in Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game last season.

In 16 games, Love rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for 237 yards and 2 scores. Moore also appeared in 16 games, starting 10 in place of injured Benjamin Morrison. The Round Rock (Texas) High product recorded 11 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 48 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.

Despite being one of college football’s most dynamic players last year, Love did not earn formal postseason recognition. Moore, meanwhile, was named the FWAA freshman defensive player of the year.

Last season, the AP named defensive lineman Howard Cross III and safety Xavier Watts preseason first-team All-Americans. Tight end Mitchell Evans and Morrison landed on the second team. The Irish did not have any AP preseason second-team All-Americans this year.