We're now 13 days away from the 2026 college football season kicking off in Week 0. Major outlets are cranking out their preseason award watch lists as well as their preseason All-America teams. ESPN released theirs this morning and two Notre Dame standouts were named to the first-team. Junior cornerback Leonard Moore and junior offensive guard Anthonie Knapp we both named by ESPN and are two of the players on the Fighting Irish roster who will do their part to engineer a title run. Anthonie Knapp, OG "Knapp was a Day 1 starter at left tackle for the Fighting Irish as a freshman in 2024 during their run to the national title game and already has 27 career starts under his belt," Eli Lederman and Max Olson of ESPN stated. "Now he's making the transition inside to left guard, a move that should highlight his toughness in the run game. The 6-5, 305-pound junior surrendered two sacks and had just four blown blocks in the run game for the Irish last season, according to ESPN Research."The Georgia native has started 27 games for the Irish offense at left tackle but this offseason, he was moved inside to left guard, a position he projects to have the highest ceiling. Throughout the offseason, we've seen the 6-5, 305-pound guard make significant plays at his new position. If he has the season we believe he's capable of having, Knapp has the opportunity to be named an All-American by several of the five major outlets (FWAA, Sporting News, Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp). Leonard Moore, CB "Moore, a former three-star recruit, is the definition of a lockdown cornerback," Lederman and Olson raved. "A unanimous All-American in 2025, Moore allowed 30 or more yards in a game just once last fall while playing the second-most snaps in press coverage (186) of any FBS defensive back. An even better illustration of his dominance: Fellow Irish starting cornerback Christian Gray was targeted 62 times last fall -- nearly double Moore's count of 33 -- after opposing teams simply stopped throwing in Moore's direction." Does it get any more obvious than Moore being named a first teamer? The Texas native is the consensus No. 1 overall cornerback in college football. Earlier this offseason, ESPN named him as the No. 1 overall defender in the nation ahead of other viable standouts. The 6-2, 197-pound corner is heading into his third, and likely final, season with the Fighting Irish and will play an integral role in Notre Dame's national title hopes. It's also worth noting that quarterback CJ Carr was named as an ESPN Preseason Second-Team All-American candidate. ESPN Preseason All-America TeamsFirst-Team: OffenseQB - Julian Sayin, Ohio State BuckeyesRB - Kewan Lacey, Ole Miss RebelsRB - Jaden Baugh, Florida GatorsWR - Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State BuckeyesWR - Cam Coleman, Texas LonghornsTE - Terrance Carter, Texas Tech Red RaidersOT - Trevor Goosby, Texas LonghornsOT - Carter Smith, Indiana HoosiersOG - Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame Fighting IrishOG - Kade Pieper, Iowa HawkeyesC - Drew Bobo, Georgia Bull DogsAll-Purpose - Malachi Toney, Miami HurricanesFirst-Team: DefenseEDGE - Colin Simmons, Texas LonghornsEDGE - Dylan Stewart, South Carolina GamecocksDT - Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami HurricanesDT - A'Mauri Washington, Oregon DucksLB - Rasheem Biles, Texas LonghornsLB - Xavier Atkins, Auburn TigersLB - Sammy Brown, Clemson TigersCB - Leonard Moore, Notre Dame Fighting IrishCB - Brice Pollack, Texas Tech Red RaidersS - KJ Bolden, Georgia BulldogsS - Ty Benefield, LSU TigersSecond-Team: OffenseQB - CJ Carr, Notre Dame Fighting IrishRB - Ahmad Hardy, Missouri TigersRB - Mark Fletcher, Miami HurricanesWR - Charlie Becker, Indiana HoosiersWR - Nick Marsh, Indiana HoosiersTE - Trey'Dez Green, LSU TigersOT - Jordan Seaton, LSU TigersOT - Trevor Lauck, Iowa HawkeyesOG - Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati BearcatsOG - Greg Johnson, Minnesota Golden GophersC - Iapani Laloulu, Oregon DucksAll-Purpose - J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech Red RaidersSecond-Team: DefenseEDGE - Anthony

Smith, Minnesota Golden GophersEDGE - John Henry-Daley, Michigan WolverinesDT - Will Echoles, Ole Miss RebelsDT - AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech Red Raiders LB - Rolijah Hardy, Indiana HoosiersLB - Kip Lewis, Oklahoma SoonersLB - Whit Weeks, LSU TigersCB - Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon DucksCB - Kelley Jones, Mississippi State Bulldogs S - Amare Ferrell, Indiana HoosiersS - Bray Hubbard, Alabama Crimson Tide ------ Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!Join the Irish Breakdown community!Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunesFollow me on Twitter: @TTrow5Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Source: Yahoo Sports