The Notre Dame Fighting Irish move ever closer to the start of the 2025 season, and as the team gets closer, it keeps getting more honors. On Monday, those honors included two players getting named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List in Leonard Moore and Drayk Bowen.
Neither Moore nor Bowen being named to the list should be a surprise. The award honors the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Both Moore and Bowen have been mentioned numerous times as players who could break out in a big way in 2025. Both had great 2024 seasons and are looking for more.
Bowen, already named to watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award, started all 16 games for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2024 and totaled 78 tackles (40 solo), ranking third on the team. He led the team in forced fumbles with three on the season. Moore, also on the 2025 preseason All-America first teams from The Sporting News, Walter Camp and ESPN, and the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy, enters his true sophomore season after being named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the Freshman All-America teams for FWAA, ESPN, The Athletic (First Team), Pro Football Focus, the College Football Network and the 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish clean up in June recruiting
The Notre Dame football team had a heck of a summer on the recruiting front. It was recently revealed just how big that summer was, thanks to a June visit schedule that saw all but one uncommitted prospect who came to South Bend committed elsewhere after his visit.
Max Hurleman showing out for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish walk-on Max Hurleman has been staking his claim to an NFL roster spot. The running back and special teams ace had himself quite a first preseason game. Not only did he have 29 receiving yards and a touchdown, but he had a TD celebration that had all of social media talking.
Notre Dame No. 6 in AP Top 25
The preseason AP Top 25 was released on Monday morning, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were given a Top 10 spot at No. 6 in the nation. Even more interesting is that they will take on the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in Week 1. If the matchup wasn't one of the most hyped of the season, it is now.