ESPN names two Notre Dame football players preseason All-Americans

Two of Notre Dame football’s most recognizable players earned more accolades Monday. ESPN namedjunior running back Jeremiyah Love and sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore to its 2025 preseason college football All-America first team. They were among 23 players to receive the honor.

Love and Moore have been stacking preseason recognition ahead of the 2025 campaign. Earlier this summer, The Sporting News and Walter Camp also named both Fighting Irish standouts to their preseason All-America teams.

Those selections carry weight because The Sporting News, Walter Camp, the Associated Press, AFCA and FWAA are the outlets used to determine consensus and unanimous All-Americans at season’s end. The AFCA and FWAA don’t publish preseason All-America teams, while the AP’s version will be released next Monday.

In addition to their All-America nods, Love and Moore each landed on three award watch lists.

Love was named to the Maxwell and Walter Camp Award watch lists, both recognizing college football’s most outstanding player, and to 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.

Love and Moore’s preseason recognition comes after they played 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, adding 28 catches for 237 yards and 2 scores. Moore, who also appeared in 16 games and started 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 season, Love did not earn formal postseason recognition. Moore, meanwhile, was named the FWAA freshman defensive player of the year.

Last season, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts made ESPN’s All-America first team, while defensive lineman Rylie Mills earned second-team honors. ESPN also tabbed Morrison (first team) and Watts (second team) as preseason All-Americans.

Morrison, Watts and Mills each heard their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite season-ending injuries to Morrison (hip) and Mills (knee), they were selected at Nos. 53 and 142 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Watts with the No. 96 pick.

Heading into the 2025 season, Love is widely regarded as the nation’s top NFL Draft-eligible running back. Moore cannot enter the draft until after his junior season in 2026.