Notre Dame's next great defensive back got some high praise, and is trending to be a top overall pick in 2027.
Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt was asked to name the best player he faced in college football, and his answer required no hesitation. He named Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, the sophomore coming off another fantastic season for the Irish.
Sarratt, who saw Moore up close in the College Football Playoff two seasons ago, said the defensive back stood out because of both his length and his skill set. The combination made Moore difficult to deal with and left a strong impression on the wide receiver many consider to be one of the best in the upcoming NFL Draft.
For Notre Dame, this kind of praise from a wide receiver probably did not need to be said, they see it on the practice field and game tape every day. But for fans of the Irish, this just reinforces what they saw on the field his first two seasons. Moore isn't just a promising, young player but one that can go up against the very best and handle himself.
Moore's size at 6-foot, 2-inch and 195-pounds is clearly an asset, however, Sarratt's comments point to Moore's mental prowess as what makes him the most dangerous. The ability to match up in coverage, compete at the catch point and stay composed against a quality receiver is what makes a cornerback truly difficult to beat. Moore apparently checked those boxes against Indiana.
I asked every prospect the best player they played against in college. All of them said a draft eligible player except one. Indiana's Elijah Sarratt said Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, one of the top prospects for next year's draft. "He's going to be great." pic.twitter.com/Fqagm8wgdb
The praise also reflects well on Notre Dame's continued development in the defensive backfield. Moore was able to get on the field as a freshman and have an impact on one of the best wide receivers in the country, and followed it up with an improved sophomore campaign.
Teammate Jeremiyah Love is expected to be a top-five draft pick in the NFL Draft which starts on Thursday. And if Moore can continue the trajectory he is on in his junior season next year, he could very well hear his name in the top-5 in the draft the following year as well.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame poised for possible historic back-to-back NFL Drafts