Michigan Wolverines football senior safety Rod Moore suffered a torn ACL during a special teams drill in March and is currently recovering. In the offseason, he hinted at the possibility of returning later this season, although he didn’t provide a specific timeline. During an appearance on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast Wednesday, Moore shared an update on his rehabilitation. “It’s going pretty well,” he said. “I’ve hit a bit of a rough patch right now. I was supposed to start running, but that hasn’t happened yet due to some other issues. However, we’ve figured things out and are moving forward, taking it step by step.” Moore has recorded six career interceptions, participating in 37 games with 27 starts over the last three seasons.
He has accumulated a total of 141 tackles and 13 pass breakups. The 6-foot-0, 198-pound native of Dayton, Ohio, also dealt with a knee injury at the beginning of the last season, which affected his performance. Despite missing three games, he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. That injury partly motivated his decision to return to Michigan for his senior year. “If you look back at the season, I missed the first three or four games,” Moore recalled. “Even when I came back, I still didn’t perform at my best. Toward the end of the season, I started to find my rhythm, which led to the interception against Ohio State. “In the national championship, I didn’t play well. I missed several coverages and felt dissatisfied with how I finished my season. “There were too many uncertainties. It felt like, ‘Oh, you could go here based on this and that,’ but I knew I hadn’t played to my potential. I know I can perform better and improve my stock.” “Coming back for my senior year, my mom reminded me that the main purpose of being here was to earn my degree and play football. She emphasized that, and it made me think, ‘Maybe she’s right. I do need my degree because there’s life after football.’” Moore, majoring in communication, has not only focused on completing his degree and getting healthy but has also taken on a coaching role for his teammates.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, and others have praised his contributions in this capacity this season. “When I first got injured, I was still present in meetings, asking about coverages the very next day, as Coach Morgan mentioned. I would ask questions to help teach the newcomers who were unfamiliar with our system. “As summer came, with transfers like Wesley Walker and Aamir Hall joining us, I tried to assist them during meetings with the finer details. They know football, but there are still many nuances to our defense they need to grasp. “During the season, I still participate in practice since I have to work out, but I spend a good part of it coaching when the coaches are addressing the field. If someone makes a mistake, I’ll pull them aside and explain what they need to do differently. I do the same in the meeting room.
On game days, I’m as excited as if I were playing. I’m constantly motivating my teammates, shouting instructions during huddles, reminding them to get off the field when necessary. It’s all about keeping everyone engaged.” Moore believes that viewing the game from this perspective will benefit him when he returns to the field, whether at Michigan or in the NFL. “I’ve definitely become smarter while not playing,” he said. “Observing the game from a coach’s perspective has opened my eyes. When I watch from the sidelines, I can often predict what’s about to happen. I’ll yell out calls to the defense, even though they can’t hear me. “It’s surprising what I notice about players’ alignments and the overall game while we watch as a team—it’s eye-opening. “I’ve been thinking that if I get to play again—whether this year or next—I’ll have a greater understanding of the game. Knowing what to anticipate allows you to play faster and with more confidence. I truly believe I’ll perform better when I’m back on the field.”
Leave a Reply