Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football’s top defensive back.
Moore has made a statement thus far in the 2025 season, earning seven midseason first-team All-America honors, including by The Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Athlon Sports. He has also been named a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, honoring the nation’s top defensive player based on play and character.
In just five games played this season, Moore has posted three interceptions. His clip of 0.60 interceptions per game ranks second among all Power 4 players, and fourth among all FBS players. He is tied for the lead among all Power 4 players in Pro Football Focus coverage grade (89.7).
Moore, in addition to his three interceptions this season, has posted five passes defended, 15 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in just five games played. With Moore’s help, Notre Dame ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (13) and sixth in the country in turnover margin (1.14).
Two of Moore’s interceptions came in the same game vs. Boise State, a career-best performance. For his performance that week, he was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week. He became the first Notre Dame player to have multiple interceptions in the same game since 2023 (Xavier Watts).
The 2024 FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Moore entered the 2025 season with several accolades, as he was named to the Preseason All-America First Team lists by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, the Associated Press, The Athletic, ESPN, CBS Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He has also been named to patch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.