Multiple Notre Dame stars named to Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List, and they have a chance to earn elite status in 2025 originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
Following each and every college football season, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Over the years, players such as Warren Sapp, Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, Terrell Suggs, Luke Kuechly, Ndamukong Suh, and Aaron Donald have taken home the award. That list is littered with current and future Hall of Fame performers.
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Notre Dame football has had some nice recent success with the Nagurski award. Former Fighting Irish All-American safety Xavier Watts took home the honor during the 2023 season. Linebacker Manti Te’o also won the award back during the 2012 season, making them the two Notre Dame recipients who have won the award since it began back during the 1993 season.
The preseason watchlist for the Bronco Nagurski was released this week, and it mentioned 60 players, and two Notre Dame players were a part of the list. Those two inclusions were sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore and linebacker Drayk Bowen. Each player is expected to be pillars for another dynamic Fighting Irish defense in 2025.
Going into last season, Moore was not expected to make a huge impact at the cornerback position with Benjamin Morrison and Christian Gray starting on the outside. When Morrison suffered his hip injury, the Texas native was pressed into duty. Moore turned into one of the very best cornerbacks in college football, finishing his first season with 48 total tackles, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. The 6-2, 195-pound cover man is dynamic.
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Bowen finished up his first season as the starting middle linebacker in 2024. The Indiana native finished that campaign with 78 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and one sack. There were some outstanding moments in year one, but most expect Bowen to take a huge jump in 2025.
Of the two, Moore feels like the more likely player to become a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy. There is an argument that he could end up being the top cornerback in the entire country this season. Anytime you are the best in the nation at a position, a lot of notoriety should follow.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
