SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior cornerback Leonard Moore, senior defensive lineman Boubacar Traore and senior safety Adon Shuler all earned selection to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Notre Dame’s three selections are tied for the most in the country.
One Irish player has won the Bednarik Award: LB Manti Te’o (2012).
Moore, who was a 2025 semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, started 10 games for the Irish and led the team with five interceptions, the seventh-most in the country. He added 31.0 total tackles, forced one fumble and broke up seven passes.
An unanimous All-American last season, Moore earned a 91.8 PFF grade and a 92.5 coverage grade last season, both leading the nation. When targeted by opposing quarterbacks, he allowed just a 45.9 passer rating.
Moore adds another accolade to his resume this year, in addition to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on top of being named a Preseason First-Team All-American by Sporting News, Walter Camp, Phil Steele, On3, ESPN and The Athletic.
Traore led the team last year with 6.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and 10 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble in 11 starts on the defensive line. He had a tackle for loss in eight different games and forced a pressure (sack or quarterback hit) in nine games. He was tabbed to the Nagurski Trophy and the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List earlier this month.
Shuler, who was a team captain last year, played in all 12 games with 11 of them being starts. He was second on the team with 53 tackles - 30 solo and 23 assisted. He recorded a pair of interceptions, forced two fumbles and was third on the team with five pass breakups. He logged a career-high 11 tackles in the win over USC last October and recorded seven or more tackles in four separate occasions in 2025.