Leonard Moore doesn't need Notre Dame's coaches reminding him of how good he is.
As Marcus Freeman sees it, the junior cornerback needs them figuring out how to make him even better.
That's becoming a more interesting challenge as Moore's résumé continues to grow.
After emerging as a freshman in 2024, Moore took a significant step last fall; starting 10 games, leading the Irish with five interceptions and recording seven pass breakups en route to becoming a unanimous All-American while finishing as a finalist for both the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
The expectations have only increased heading into 2026.
Moore has been named a First Team Preseason All-American by Sporting News, Walter Camp, ESPN and The Athletic while also being named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by some publications. He's on watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award, among others.
While he’s been compared to past elite NFL cornerback prospects - and is expected to be drafted in a similar spot to those guys - in terms of contemporaries, he’s most often referred to as the defensive version of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. In fact, Smith was the only player rated higher (99) than Moore (97) in EA Sports’ College Football ‘27.
None of that leads Freeman to think Moore needs less coaching.
"It's not difficult," Freeman said when asked about finding ways to challenge Moore at this point.
"You’ve just got to be intentional about what you challenge him with. Leonard's not going to struggle with the same things that maybe a freshman struggles with."
Moore didn’t struggle with the things most freshmen struggle with even when he was a freshman himself.
The Texas native played in all 16 games during Notre Dame's run to the national championship game in 2024, starting 10 and making up for what was initially seen as a season-changing injury to then-star Benjamin Morrison. Moore finished that season with 48 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high 11 pass breakups before being named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
Two years later, the areas coaches need to push are different, but they still exist.
"It's always a challenge, the details, the fundamentals, like how you coach him every play, you challenge him, the leadership," Freeman said. "There's a lot of ways to challenge Leonard. He wants that. He wants to be coached."
That last part is important to Freeman.
"Great players don't want to be left alone," Freeman continued. "Leonard Moore doesn't need buddies. He needs somebody to make him better."
Moore has already checked off accomplishments most players will never reach.
The 6-foot-2, 197-pounder has gone from Freshman Defensive Player of the Year to unanimous All-American in two seasons. Now, he's entering his junior season as one of the most decorated defensive players in college football.
For Freeman, those accomplishments don't change the staff’s responsibility to develop Moore. They just require the staff to challenge itself to continue searching for ways to push him.
"It's our job to continuously find ways to challenge him and make him better, even when you are an elite player like he is."
