SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Cornerback Leonard Moore and safety Brauntae Johnson have been named to the Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America first team while linebacker Drayk Bowen and offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp were selected to the second team.
Moore, who is coming off a 2025 unanimous All-American season, started in 10 games for Notre Dame 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.
Already named to the Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-America team this summer, Moore earned a 91.8 PFF grade and a 92.5 coverage grade last season, both leading the nation. He allowed just a 45.9 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks when targeted.
The Round Rock, Texas native made his presence known in multiple games throughout the season. Against Boise State last October, he forced three turnovers (two interceptions, one forced fumble), for his first career multi-interception game. Moore, who also had six solo tackles against the Broncos, was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week following his performance.
Johnson played in 10 games last season with eight starts. He was fourth on the team with 48.0 total tackles and was right behind Moore in the interceptions category with four, the second-most by an Irish in 2025.
Against Pitt last November, Johnson returned an interception back 49 yards for a touchdown in the fourth-quarter, his first career pick-six. He also tallied his first career half of a tackle for loss and was named the Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week and Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week following his standout performance. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Johnson capped off his season with FWAA Freshman All-America team honors.
Bowen, a team captain last season, started all 12 games for Notre Dame and led the team with 67 tackles - 33 solo and 34 assisted. He also logged three and a half sacks with four pass breakups.
A product of St. John, Indiana, Bowen recorded a career-high 14 tackles, all solo, in a win at Boston College last November. Those 14 tackles were the most by an Irish defender since Alohi Gilman’s 18 against Clemson in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal and the most by any player in the country at that point in the season.
Knapp, who was named to the 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team in June, has started in all 29 games he’s played in his Irish career the past two seasons, including all 12 games last year at left tackle. He was tabbed to the Outland Trophy Watch List earlier this week.
Behind Knapp and the Irish offensive line, the Notre Dame offense averaged 5.69 yards per carry, which was tied for the third-best clip in the FBS and the second-highest yards per carry in a season in program history. The Irish offense ranked sixth among Power 4 programs with 203.4 rushing yards per game while allowing just 1.00 sack per game, the eighth-lowest total in the country.