ATLANTA — Saturday’s 31-13 win over Georgia Tech wasn’t the first start of Leonard Moore’s Notre Dame football career.
The talented freshman cornerback has last month’s Louisville experience — 76 high-intensity woofing plays — in his memory bank.
But this is the first time Moore has played for Ireland without team captain Benjamin Morrison in uniform. That’s why it was reassuring every time Moore’s phone rang this week with another message from the absent All-American.
“It means a lot,” Moore said Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “He was having surgery, he was going through it, but he still took the time to talk to me. He sent me a message before the game that he believed in me and so on. That’s good to see.”
In a 31–24 win over Louisville, Moore played cornerback in place of the injured Christian Gray. All Moore did was lead the Irish with seven tackles.
This time Moore was the starter in place of Morrison, out for the season after undergoing hip surgery during the week. This time Moore played on the boundary, where things can get physical and traffic causes confusion.
He will not let Morrison down.
Moore had seven tackles in the first half and finished with a team-high two pass breakups.
“It’s just a crazy state of affairs,” Moore said. “It’s sad to see. I’m still praying B-Moe right now. We love him to death. You don’t want to see that, especially for a player as good as B-Moe.”
Earlier in the week, Morrison’s teammates wanted to be there for him. They still feel that way, but they also know they have a dangerous opponent in Georgia Tech.
“The rest of the week we have to lock in and prepare,” Moore said. “I just try, even on weeks where I’m not starting, to prepare like a starter just in case the opportunity arises. B-Moe has been shaken up a lot this season, so I always have to be ready for my time.”
Morrison, who is still projected for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, is fulfilling his role as a de facto assistant coach.
“You can’t make up for the loss of Benjamin Morrison with just one person,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “He continues to lead. He was watching a film, giving training points to our guys at the hospital. That’s the kind of guy he is.”
Freeman shook his head at the three-year starter’s devotion.
“He sent them film, really the young guys – Karson (Hobbs), Leonard – who coached them,” Freeman said. “That’s the type of leader and person he is.”
In the next breath, Freeman found himself bragging to Moore, a freshman from Round Rock, Texas.
“He’s special,” Freeman said. “We couldn’t replace (Morrison) with one guy, but damn, Leonard did a great job.”
Like Morrison in 2022, Moore only enrolled in June.
Like Morrison in 2022, Moore isn’t waiting for permission to be great.
“We knew Leonard was special from the moment he stepped on campus,” Freeman said. “When will the opportunity arise?”
Senior backup Chance Tucker underwent knee surgery. Jaden Mickey, a junior with three career starts, entered the transfer portal. And now Morrison is done for the year and will likely move on to the NFL.
What about Moore? In the spotlight, he looks ready to handle it.
“You definitely have to be confident, especially as a cornerback,” Moore said. “What Ben told me was don’t think about it as if you were a freshman. Just imagine when you just go out and play football. Don’t give yourself any excuses. Go out there and take care of your men.”
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After Tuesday’s practice, defensive coordinator Al Golden was asked what Moore has demonstrated to earn so much confidence so early in his career.
“Maturity,” Golden said. “What a mature child. Prepare well. The athleticism and (having) intelligence to do it. Does what you ask. It’s rare to make the same mistake twice in practice. That’s where he got his confidence.”
His physical pieces, at 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, complete the package.
“He has really good length and he plays strong,” Golden said. “He also showed up in the running game, which is a great attribute to have.”
Did we mention undefeated Navy will face Ireland next on Saturday at MetLife Stadium? Moore seems ready to take on the challenge.
“Especially at the border, a lot of (runs) came my way,” Moore said, speaking generally. “I have to be there to set the edge and make sure they don’t take too much distance on the boundary.”
The recruiting process can give coaches an idea of a prospect’s character and maturity, but there’s still some guesswork until the player is in your building day after day.
“You try to get ideas through your interactions or the way they interact with their parents or interact with our players or coaches,” Golden said. “But you never know until they get here.”
Seven games into Moore’s junior year, he already looks like a known quantity.
“It’s just business,” Golden said. “You don’t have to worry about any nonsense with him. It’s all about football.”
When asked after Saturday’s game to share the source of his precocious attitude, Moore answered firmly and based on facts.
“That comes from me being a level-headed individual,” he said. “I know my duty. I just have to do my duty to take care of it. Always locked in and focused on what I need to get done — I feel like it comes from that.”
With Moore, it looks like there’s a lot more we can get.
“The only guarantee in life is an uncertain future,” Freeman said. “So keep preparing. Keep the opportunity you have in front of yourself, and then you get the opportunity to do it in front of thousands and millions of people and be ready to perform — just like Leonard did.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDIinsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
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