Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens added another piece to the Notre Dame defensive back room today when CB Leonard Moore verbally committed to the Fighting Irish. The 6’2″/175-pounder out of Round Rock, TX is the 8th commitment for Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2024 — a class that currently ranks 2nd in the nation via the 247 Composite behind only Georgia.

Recruiting Service Rankings

247Sports Composite — 3 star (.8826), #410 overall, #39 CB, #69 (nice) in TX

On3 Consensus — 3 star (88.67), #394 overall, #41 CB, #71 in TX

The 247 Composite and On3 Consensus both combine 247, On3, Rivals, and ESPN rankings.

247Sports — 3 star (88 rating), NR overall, #36 CB, #59 in TX

On3 — 3 star (89 rating), NR overall, #38 CB, #60 in TX

Rivals — 3 star (5,7 rating), NR overall, #34 CB, NR in TX

ESPN — Not Yet Rated

Friend of the Stripes Jamie Uyeyama does the recruit evaluations for ISD, and we trust his evals as much as anyone’s. So while the 247 Composite and the On3 Consensus don’t factor in ISD evals, we put a lot of weight on them ourselves.

Irish Sports Daily — 4 star (91 rating)

Cohort

Leonard chose the Irish over other offers from TCU, Kansas State, Oregon, Baylor, Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Duke, Washington State, Houston, Missouri, Tulsa, and UTSA.

Highlights

Moore’s length is apparent on film and he looks every bit of his listed 6’2″. Those long arms help him in press coverage, making it easier to be disruptive to receivers at the beginning of their route. He’s a physical player and he possesses some outstanding ball skills with the ability to find the football and high-point it in the air.

For a bit of a deeper look from a more professional perspective, I’d recommend (as always) ISD’s Film Don’t Lie piece on Leonard Moore.

Impact

The addition of Leonard Moore makes two corners committed in the class of 2024 for Notre Dame. Freeman and Mickens may be done at the position this cycle but if 2023 is any indication, the staff may be willing to take more numbers that most would consider necessary in the secondary. Moore and Karson Hobbs are a good duo with both potentially ending up in 4-star territory when all is said and done — Hobbs just recently snuck his way into composite 4-star status and Moore probably makes his way there soon if the recruiting services can get a verified 40 time on him that they like.

The cupboards aren’t exactly bare at the position right now, but you never know what kind of developments will occur at the position over the next year and a half. The Irish should be sitting pretty with Ben Morrison and Jaden Mickey already looking like solid (or better, at least in Morrison’s case) players with 2023 signees Christian Gray, Micah Bell, and the trio 2021 signees still on the roster. But if none of those 2021 guys pan out as serviceable corners, the depth could get dicey. Neither of Hobbs or Moore should need to play significant snaps in 2024. But I wouldn’t be shocked if one of them proved to be ready to see the field that early, either.

In any case, welcome to the Irish family Leonard!