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Leonard Moore captures national defensive Freshman of the Year award
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Leonard Moore made an immediate impact in Notre Dame’s secondary in 2024, and on Wednesday he was recognized for that impact by being named the national defensive Freshman of the Year by the FWAA.
The 6-foot-2, 187-pound cornerback from Texas helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 12-team College Football Playoff last month. And now, Moore and the Irish will be playing for a national championship on Monday night in Atlanta against Ohio State.
With 1 game still to play this season, Moore has 43 total tackles, 29 of them solo, with 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. Moore has 10 passes defended, too, and he’s passed the difficult test of coming in as a freshman and making an immediate difference in big-time games.
Moore’s big-play ability all season will be put to the test 1 more time on Monday night against a dangerous group of wide receivers for the Buckeyes that is headlined by another freshman in Jeremiah Smith.
Moore has made 9 starts this season, including all 3 of Notre Dame’s Playoff wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State. Moore’s presence was key earlier in the season when star cornerback Benjamin Morrison went down with an injury. His 10 passes defended ranks 5th among FBS freshmen.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
