Notre Dame Secondary Ranked As The Best Unit In College Football For 2025

Notre Dame has made a habit of putting out top secondaries under Mike Mickens, but the 2025 unit could end up being the best group yet for the Fighting Irish. The Irish return a deep and talented secondary, and Phil Steele views it as the best returning secondary in all of college football

In his preseason magazine, Steele ranks all the position groups and it's clear he believes the Irish return a very talented roster in 2025. But no unit got as much love from Steele as did the secondary, who ranks as the only No. 1 position group for Notre Dame.

Here is what Steele had to say about the Fighting Irish secondary.

"ND brings back most of the unit that ranked #4 in my Pass Defense Rankings (52.1% and 14-19 ratio). CB Leonard Moore (11 PDs) is an AA candidate in just Yr 2. PS#16 Christian Gray (3 INTs) is emerging. Adon Shuler (3 INTs) is entrenched at safety." - Phil Steele

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Sophomore Leonard Moore is obviously the focal point of the secondary after his brilliant freshman campaign. He racked up 48 tackles, broke up 11 passes, picked off two passes and forced two fumbles as a rookie. According to Pro Football Focus, Moore held opponents to a 46.4-percent completion rate. Moore was named the Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America.

Moore and Gray are expected to form one of the nation's best cornerback tandems in 2025. Christian Gray began the season on a very high note, breaking up four passes and picking off another throw in the first four games. He missed the Louisville win with a hand injury, and Gray was not quite the same player when he returned. The expectation is that a healthy Gray will get back to being the player he was at the start of the 2024 season.

Shuler also had a breakout season in his first season in the starting line. He finished fourth on the defense with 59 tackles to go with his three interceptions, which included a pick six in the win over Georgia Tech. Shuler also broke up five more passes and his forced fumble early in the win over Georgia played a major role in that victory.

Notre Dame also landed nickel Devonta Smith out of the portal. He was the starting nickel for Alabama last season and he finished with 30 tackles and five pass break ups. Smith had a strong spring for the Irish and made a quick transition into the Irish defense.

The fifth starter in the secondary remains to be seen, with veteran Luke Talich and Virginia Tech transfer Jalen Stroman battling talented young safeties Brauntae Johnson and JaDon Blair for a starting role.