With Notre Dame star CB Benjamin Morrison out this season, Leonard Moore made the most of the opportunity to get more playing time.

The true freshman from Round Rock, Texas, has started three of the last four games and is becoming increasingly comfortable on one of the nation’s best defensive units.

Moore excelled in run defense against Louisville and Georgia Tech, making seven tackles in each of those wins. In last weekend’s game against Navy, he collected his first career pass while also earning one of his highest points. PFF Grades among true freshmen in Week 9.

Although impressive, Moore’s meteoric rise did not come as a huge surprise; At least for those who followed him closely in the preseason.

Moore had a great camp and always seemed to be around the ball. He had the length, ball skills, maturity and intelligence to play right away, but the secondary was too deep and experienced before the season and reps were limited.

But the Irish were hit so hard by injuries on the back end that the rookie was forced into action. And he faced adversity both at the corner of the field and at the boundary corner.

Like Morrison before him, Moore is all business and this is reflected in how well he plays at such an early stage of his career.

Moore and Notre Dame are off this week before returning to action on Nov. 2 with the visit of Florida State.

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