When talking about the teams that are the best in college football this year, it's hardly a surprise that those teams have more than one player who stands out. What is a bit eyebrow-raising when it comes to PFF's Top 50 players in the sport is not that there are two Fighting Irish players on the list, but that, alongside Leonard Moore, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and CJ Carr, was safety Tae Johnson. This sophomore is a rising star, but he's not yet a household name.
That aside, the fact that four players made the list put together by Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick of the 50 best players in the sport. It's yet another reason why the Irish are considered one of the best teams in the country and why the defense, especially, is something to be feared.
Moore being the first Notre Dame player on the list, and the No. 2 overall player, is far from surprising. The hype for the junior corner is reaching a fevered peak just ahead of fall practice. Moore ranked only behind Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, which suggests that the soon-to-be NFL star is poised for an incredible 2026 campaign.
"Moore’s first two college seasons have been better than those of any cornerback in the PFF College era. According to PFF WAA, he was the third-most valuable cornerback in the nation as a true freshman in 2024, trailing only 2025 first-round picks Travis Hunter and Jahdae Barron," the Pro Football Focus analysts wrote. "Moore led all cornerbacks in PFF overall grade (91.8) as a sophomore and was PFF’s pick for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. He has seven career interceptions and projects as one of the best cornerback prospects in recent memory."
PFF ranks Leonard Moore, CJ Carr, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Tae Johnson
CJ Carr, who has gotten plenty of praise on his own heading into his second season as a starting quarterback, got praise from Wasserman and Chadwick as well. As the No. 14 overall player on this list, he's also the No. 5 quarterback.
Just two spots behind Carr is Viliamu-Asa, an up-and-coming linebacker who might not be able to play the entire season due to a torn ACL last year, but even so, he's expected to be an impact defender when he is on the field.
"Viliamu-Asa became a superstar as a sophomore for the Fighting Irish and enters 2026 as the top returning linebacker in college football. His 89.7 PFF overall grade ranked second in the Power Four behind only Jacob Rodriguez, while his 94.0 PFF run-defense grade ranked second in the FBS, also behind Rodriguez. He also ranked eighth in the Power Four with an 83.3 coverage grade and even lined up off the edge at times, highlighting his versatility."
And then there's Tae Johnson. He won a starting job as 2025 went on as a true sophomore thanks to his play in the season that echoed what caught Notre Dame coaches' eyes during the spring practice before it.
While the safety just squeaked into the Top 50 at No. 44, he's still plenty impressive and is expected to only improve on a fantastic campaign last season. He's even thought to be someone who could go to the NFL rather quickly.
With four players from Notre Dame among the Top 50 players in the country, PFF has once again demonstrated that there's plenty of talent on the squad and that could lead to a lot more than individual honors.
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