Notre Dame had a fantastic 2024 season, finishing with a franchise record 14 wins. The Irish qualified for the first-ever 12-team playoff and won three games on route to the national championship. Although Notre Dame did not win the championship, the program had a fantastic season. Following the season, Pro Football Focus ranked the top 101 players from the 2024 college football season. Here is a list of the Irish players on the list.
NO. 16 – S XAVIER WATTS
“Last year’s Nagurski Award winner performed even better in 2024. His total grade of 89.7 placed him sixth among qualified safeties, and he topped that group with six interceptions. Equally important, he improved his run defense grade by 17 points and demonstrated better tackling abilities. Watts was an integral part of Notre Dame’s national title run.” – Max Chadwick, PFF
NO. 19 – RB JEREMIYAH LOVE
“The Fighting Irish advanced to the national championship game thanks to their strong defense and superior run game, the latter of which was primarily attributed to their superstar sophomore. Love concluded the year as the nation’s second-most valuable running back, according to PFF’s wins above average measure, and his 91.0 PFF rating ranked fifth. He forced a missed tackle on 38% of his carries, ranking second among the Power Four. Love will enter 2025 as college football’s finest tailback.” – Chadwick
NO. 21 – CB LEONARD MOORE
“Moore’s collegiate career began with little fanfare as a three-star recruit. He will enter his second year as the top cornerback in America, thanks to his outstanding performance as a true freshman. Moore’s 89.1 PFF grade was third among Power Four corners, and his 81.7 grade in man coverage was fourth among all corners in the country. According to PFF’s wins above-average measure, he concluded the year as the nation’s third-most valuable cornerback, trailing only two predicted first-round picks, Jahdae Barron and Travis Hunter.” – Chadwick
NO. 71 – QB RILEY LEONARD
“There might not have been a single player in the College Football Playoff who had more heart, effort, and leadership down the stretch than Leonard. While Leonard’s arm may be limited for the rest of his life, his legs have made a significant impact for the Irish this season. Leonard nearly broke 1,000 yards rushing, ending with 982 on 173 carries. This earned him an 82.8 run grade, putting him in the top ten among all quarterbacks. – Chadwick
NO. 75 – NB JORDAN CLARK
“Clark was a key component of a Notre Dame secondary that ran as much man coverage as any team in the country. Clark’s 83.2 coverage grade ranked him among the top 15 Power Four cornerbacks while predominantly playing in the slot position. He also broke up six passes and allowed only 9.1 yards per reception. – Chadwick
NO. 88 – LB JACK KISER
“The sixth-year captain for Marcus Freeman’s team had a hell of a career in South Bend. You won’t find many tougher football players than Kiser, who gave it his all against Ohio State. Kiser had his greatest statistical season in his final year, recording 75 total tackles and 35 run stops. This earned him an excellent 90.5 tackling score and an 86.8 run-defense grade, both of which ranked in the top 16 among linebackers.” – Chadwick
NO. 94 – LB DRAYK BOWEN
“Bowen emerged as one of the top young linebackers in college football this year. This season, his total grade of 80.7 was in the top 20 in the Power Four. He was already a top tackler as a true sophomore, missing only five tackles in 16 games. Bowen will be one of the top returning players at his position in 2025.” – Bowen
Obviously, I have no complaints with the seven players on the list, but the absence of Rylie Mills was surprising. Mills received second-team All-America accolades from Sporting News and was listed in the Top 10 by Pro Football Focus in defensive tackle pressures this season. He also placed fifth among defensive tackles in hits and QB sacks.
