Notre Dame football star earns Patrick Surtain II comp as he eyes top-5 pick

Notre Dame football has a lot of stars on both sides of the football, and the Irish enter the season as the No. 4 team in the nation with plenty of College Football Playoff aspirations as a result. Quarterback CJ Carr gets a lot of the love from scouts and pundits, but cornerback Leonard Moore is one of the best prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft class.

Moore has been a star for Notre Dame since the second he stepped on the field for Marcus Freeman in 2024. Now, he is the best cornerback prospect and arguably the best overall prospect in a loaded 2027 draft class.

According to Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, Moore is the No. 2 prospect in the 2027 class behind Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith. In his initial NFL Draft rankings before the season, he compared the rising star to Denver Broncos superstar Patrick Surtain II.

“An outstanding blend of size and athleticism at 6-2, 197, Moore’s on-field movement can remind one of Denver Broncos star Pat Surtain II,” Baumgardner wrote. “That’s not all, though, as his football IQ in space is also top-notch. Moore forced 10 incompletions, had seven pass breakups and five picks as a sophomore last year, while emerging as one of the most complete defenders in America.”

Moore has been a starter for the Irish in each of his first two seasons in South Bend. During that time, he has picked off seven passes and has 18 pass breakups.

The reigning All-American is listed at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds, giving him excellent size for the position. Despite being on the bigger side for that spot, Moore has incredible fluidity and athleticism, all while maintaining the physicality needed to handle even the very best receivers.

The 2027 draft is loaded with quarterbacks, which could push players like Smith and Moore down the draft board next spring, but there will still be plenty of teams near the top of the draft looking for a player like the Notre Dame star at a premium position. Another great season in 2026 could even get him into the conversation as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

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