ESPN names two Notre Dame stars in its top-40 most important players

Notre Dame football will officially begin its 2026 season preparations tomorrow , as it will open up fall camp as the season is less than a month away from starting.

The Irish have plenty of talented players on their team, and ESPN recently named two of them in their top-40 most important players of college football in 2026. Bill Connelly picked “40 players who could define the season with moments, or long spells, of greatness.” Cornerback Leonard Moore and / or Christian Gray were selected at No. 24 among a group that Connelly named “pure transcendence potential.”