Notre Dame has two players on the Maxwell Award watch list in quarterback CJ Carr and cornerback Leonard Moore. As a former cornerback myself… LETS GO LEONARD MOORE!!!!
Knowing the Thorpe Award, however, Moore would win the Maxwell but somehow not win the Thorpe (kind of like the Outland works).
Carr, Moore Selected to Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior quarterback CJ Carr and junior cornerback Leonard Moore have earned selection to the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade, that is presented annually to the collegiate football player of the year.
The 50-player watch list includes 41 offensive players along with nine on the defensive side. Notre Dame is one of just five teams to have both an offensive player and defensive player named to the watch list.
Four Notre Dame players have been named the Walter Camp Player of the Year in the award’s history: TE Ken MacAfee (1977), FL Tim Brown (1987), FL Raghib Ismail (1990) and LB Manti Te’o (2012). The four winners are tied for second-most all time by a program in the award’s history.
Carr started all 12 games last year, finishing the season with 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns. His 24 touchdowns were tied for the most passing touchdowns in a player’s first 12 career starts at Notre Dame since 1966. With Carr behind center last season, Notre Dame ranked second in the country in scoring offense (41.8).
The Saline, Michigan native threw a touchdown pass in all 12 games in 2025, the longest streak by an Irish quarterback since 2014. Carr totaled nine games with multiple touchdown throws a season ago while also rushing for three.
Among all returning Power 4 quarterbacks, Carr was first in yards per completion (14.06) and ranked second in yards per attempt (9.35) and touchdown rate (8.2%) last year. He was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List earlier this month.
An unanimous All-American last season, Moore started 10 games for the Irish and led the team with five interceptions, the seventh-most in the country. He added 31.0 total tackles, forced one fumble and broke up seven passes.
Already named to the Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-America team in June, Already named to the Walter Camp and Sporting News Preseason First Team All-America team this summer, Moore earned a 91.8 PFF grade and a 92.5 coverage grade last season, both leading the nation. When targeted by opposing quarterbacks, he allowed just a 45.9 passer rating.
Moore adds another preseason accolade to his resume this year, in addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List this summer.