Notre Dame announced their six captains for the 2025 season last week, with two weeks before their season opener.
The group includes linebacker Drayk Bowen, safety Adon Shuler, receiver Will Pauling, defensive tackle Donovan Hinish, offensive guard Billy Schrauth and offensive tackle Aamil Wagner.
The Fighting Irish captains are three juniors and three seniors.
However, if it wasn’t for Notre Dame’s rule that underclassmen can’t be captains, there might have been a sophomore in the group.
Leonard Moore Earns High Praise From Marcus Freeman
Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore burst onto the scene last year as a freshman. Moore played in all 16 games and started in 10 games.
The freshman corner collected 48 tackles, two interceptions and forced two fumbles.
Moore also led the team with 11 pass breakups. After an impressive freshman season, head coach Marcus Freeman believes Moore could have been a captain in 2025 if he was a year older.
“If I would’ve given the option for a guy in their second year to be a captain, I’m not certain Leonard wouldn’t have been a captain,” Freeman said on Tuesday.
Freeman made the comments according to On3.com.
99 Man coverage from Leonard Moore pic.twitter.com/xzifyLUqzJ
— ND Insider (@insider_nd) June 20, 2025
Moore’s ability jumped off the screen in his freshman season. The Notre Dame cornerback finished as the top-rated returner at his position in the country, according to PFF.
He’s also the sixth-ranked overall player on the 2025 PFF College 50.
In addition to his play on the field, Moore is taking on more of a leadership role. Freeman said the young corner is coaching his freshman teammates just as much as defensive backs coach Mike Mickens.
Heading into his sophomore season, Moore is on three different preseason award watch lists and named to eight different preseason All-American First Teams.
Those honors include ESPN’s, Associated Press’ and The Athletic’s teams.
Moore broke out as a freshman, but another breakout could be coming in 2025. The young Notre Dame cornerback may not be listed as a captain in 2025, but he’s certainly embodying what a leader on the field looks like.
