Notre Dame’s historic 2024 season, which saw the Irish notch a program-record 14 wins and make a deep run in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, was filled with standout performances. While the team fell just short of a national championship, several players received individual recognition for their stellar play.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its list of the Top 101 players from the 2024 college football season, and seven Notre Dame standouts made the cut. Here’s a look at the Irish players who earned a spot on the prestigious list.
Notre Dame Players in the PFF Top 101
No. 16 – S Xavier Watts
“Last year’s Nagurski Award winner elevated his play even further in 2024. Watts’ 89.7 overall grade ranked fifth among all safeties, and he led the group with six interceptions. He also made significant strides in run defense, improving his grade by 17 points. His tackling ability and versatility were crucial to Notre Dame’s national championship push.” – Max Chadwick, PFF
No. 19 – RB Jeremiyah Love
“The Irish’s dominant ground game was a key factor in their title run, and Love was at the heart of it. He finished the season as the second-most-valuable running back in the country per PFF’s wins above average metric. His 91.0 PFF grade was fifth overall, and he forced a missed tackle on 38% of his carries, ranking second in the Power Four conferences. Love enters 2025 as college football’s top running back.” – Chadwick
No. 21 – CB Leonard Moore
“A former three-star recruit, Moore quickly emerged as a star, finishing his true freshman season as one of the best cornerbacks in the nation. His 89.1 PFF grade ranked third among Power Four corners, while his 81.7 man coverage grade was fourth nationally. He was also the third-most-valuable cornerback in the country, trailing only projected first-round picks Jahdae Barron and Travis Hunter.” – Chadwick
No. 71 – QB Riley Leonard
“Few players displayed more grit and leadership in the College Football Playoff than Leonard. While his passing ability has limitations, his dynamic rushing ability set him apart. Leonard finished just shy of 1,000 rushing yards, tallying 982 yards on 173 carries, earning an impressive 82.8 PFF run grade—one of the top 10 among quarterbacks.” – Chadwick
No. 75 – NB Jordan Clark
“Clark played a crucial role in Notre Dame’s secondary, which relied heavily on man coverage. Primarily operating in the slot, he posted an 83.2 coverage grade, ranking in the top 15 among Power Four cornerbacks. He also broke up six passes and allowed just 9.1 yards per reception.” – Chadwick
No. 88 – LB Jack Kiser
“The sixth-year team captain capped off a remarkable career with his best season yet. Known for his toughness, Kiser delivered a standout performance against Ohio State. He racked up 75 total tackles and 35 run stops while earning a 90.5 tackling grade and an 86.8 run-defense grade, both ranking in the top 16 among linebackers.” – Chadwick
No. 94 – LB Drayk Bowen
“Bowen emerged as one of college football’s top young linebackers, earning an 80.7 overall grade—one of the top 20 marks in the Power Four. As a true sophomore, he showcased elite tackling skills, missing just five tackles across 16 games. He will be one of the premier returning linebackers in 2025.” – Chadwick
S Xavier Watts
Notable Snub: DL Rylie Mills
While these seven Irish players received well-deserved recognition, one glaring omission was defensive lineman Rylie Mills. Mills earned second-team All-America honors from Sporting News and ranked in the Top 10 among defensive tackles in pressures, according to PFF. He also placed fifth among defensive tackles in combined quarterback hits and sacks, making his exclusion from the Top 101 list a surprising oversight.
Notre Dame’s 2024 season was one for the history books, and with several key players returning in 2025, the Irish will look to build on their success and take another shot at a national title.
