Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Leonard Moore, and Billy Schrauth Earn AFCA All-America Honors
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The postseason accolades keep rolling in for Notre Dame, and for good reason. Three of the Irish’s biggest standouts - running back Jeremiyah Love, cornerback Leonard Moore, and offensive lineman Billy Schrauth - have earned spots on the 2025 AFCA All-America teams. Love and Moore landed on the prestigious first team, while Schrauth earned second-team recognition.
This isn’t just a feather in the cap - the AFCA honor is one of the five major All-America selections that count toward consensus and unanimous All-America status. With Love and Moore already named to the first team by both the Associated Press and Walter Camp, they’re now firmly in the mix to become consensus All-Americans, depending on how the remaining two lists shake out.
Let’s break down what made each of these players worthy of national recognition.
Jeremiyah Love: A Season for the Record Books
Jeremiyah Love didn’t just have a great season - he had the kind of year that etches your name into Notre Dame lore. The junior running back finished third in the country in total yards from scrimmage with 1,652 and second in total touchdowns with 21.
That’s elite company, but here’s the kicker: Love was the only player in the nation to finish the regular season ranked in the top three in scoring, total touchdowns, and yards from scrimmage. That’s not just production - that’s dominance.
His trophy case is getting crowded. Love took home the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back, and the Disney Spirit Award, which honors college football’s most inspirational figure.
He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Maxwell Award. That’s a who’s who of college football’s biggest honors.
And if you’re a fan of big plays, Love delivered those too. He became the first player in Notre Dame history to record two 90-plus-yard rushing touchdowns in a career - a 98-yard sprint in the 2024 College Football Playoff against Indiana and a 94-yard burst this season at Boston College. That kind of explosiveness is rare, and it’s a big reason why Love’s name has been on everyone’s lips this year.
Leonard Moore: Lockdown and Loaded
Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore came into the season with high expectations - and somehow exceeded them. After earning preseason All-American status following a standout freshman campaign, Moore proved he wasn’t a one-year wonder.
Despite missing two games with an ankle injury, Moore still made his presence felt in a big way. In just 10 games, he racked up 31 tackles, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, and five interceptions - good enough to tie for fifth nationally. That’s elite ball production from a player who already had the reputation of a shutdown corner.
According to Pro Football Focus, Moore earned the highest coverage grade among all Power Four cornerbacks in 2025. That’s not just hype - that’s data-backed dominance. His efforts also earned him finalist nods for both the Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player) and the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back).
Moore’s ability to erase top receivers and make game-changing plays in coverage gave Notre Dame a true difference-maker on the back end. He’s the kind of corner you build a defense around - and the kind opposing quarterbacks avoid at all costs.
Billy Schrauth: The Anchor Up Front
While offensive linemen rarely get the spotlight, Billy Schrauth made it impossible to ignore his impact. The junior guard was named a team captain in 2025 and was playing at an All-American level before a knee injury cut his season short with five games to go.
Even in limited action, Schrauth graded out as Notre Dame’s top pass blocker, according to Pro Football Focus. At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, he combined size, strength, and technique to help anchor one of the most efficient offenses in the country.
The numbers back it up. With Schrauth leading the charge up front, the Irish finished top 20 nationally in a slew of offensive categories - including fifth in scoring offense (41.8 points per game), fifth in team passing efficiency, and 18th in both total offense (458.5 yards per game) and rushing offense (203.4 yards per game). That kind of balance and explosiveness doesn’t happen without a strong offensive line, and Schrauth was at the heart of it.
A Season of Stars - On Both Sides of the Ball
Notre Dame’s 2025 campaign wasn’t just defined by wins and stats - it was defined by star power. And the Irish didn’t just produce All-Americans - they faced them, too. This season, Notre Dame went up against four AFCA First-Team selections and one Second-Team player, including:
- WR Makai Lemon (USC)
- EDGE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)
- EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami)
- All-Purpose KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)
- S Bishop Fitzgerald (USC)
That’s a murderers’ row of talent, and it underscores just how battle-tested this Notre Dame team was throughout the year.
What It All Means
For Notre Dame, these All-America honors are more than just individual accolades - they’re a reflection of a program that’s been building something special. Jeremiyah Love, Leonard Moore, and Billy Schrauth didn’t just play well - they became cornerstones of a team that competed at the highest level and made a national statement.
And while the final All-America lists are still rolling out, one thing is already clear: Notre Dame’s stars shined as bright as anyone in the country in 2025.