ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan Wolverines safety Rod Moore shared his emotions about returning to the field after a long 16-month absence, after tearing his ACL.
“It was real emotional,” said Moore. “It’s been like I think it was 16 months since I played football. So, you know, I was a little nervous. Had the little jitters and shakes, but got a tackle on the second play, so it kind of went away, but it was real fun.”
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Moore also spoke about the current state of Michigan’s secondary and how he hopes to help the young players.
“I feel like our secondary is in a really good spot. We had a lot of young guys playing now, and that’s really good because, you know, that means there’s a lot of potential.“I feel like our secondary is in a really good spot.
We had a lot of young guys playing now, and that’s really good because, you know, that means there’s a lot of potential.
So, I think, you know, with me being out there, it kind of helps him a lot. Especially because I have a lot of experience and, you know, we got a lot of weeks to get better with coach (LaMar) Morgan and all of us in the film room, and you just got a lot more potential from there.
So, I think, you know, with me being out there, it kind of helps him a lot.
Rod Moore
“The first three weeks it was kind of getting back into football, and I really wasn’t just ready to go to playing the game yet.
The first three weeks it was kind of getting back into football, and I really wasn’t just ready to go to playing the game yet.
And I think after week three, I warmed up and I felt really good, and then we went through the Nebraska week and I just had a good day every day, and that’s what it really was.
Like the weeks before, I probably had three good days, and I would come back super sore, and I couldn’t, you know, finish the week out. But Nebraska just, you know, cleared out and then woke up Saturday morning, was ready to go. So they let me go.
And I think after week three, I warmed up and I felt really good, and then we went through the Nebraska week and I just had a good day every day, and that’s what it really was.
Like the weeks before, I probably had three good days, and I would come back super sore, and I couldn’t, you know, finish the week out. But Nebraska just, you know, cleared out and then woke up Saturday morning, was ready to go. So they let me go.”
Rod Moore
Jaden Sanders
Discussing teammate Jaden Sanders, Moore praised his intelligence and work ethic.
“I think he’s just a smart football player, especially as a freshman and playing at the University of Michigan, especially our defense.
It’s kind of complicated as a corner and, you know, he asks questions in the meeting room that, you know, maybe I didn’t even ask a freshman, and he listens.
You know, some freshmen think they know it all, are kind of hard-headed, but he goes out there and plays hard, listens, and just makes plays.”
Rod Moore
Bye week
When asked about watching college football during the team’s Week 5 bye week, Moore admitted he took a break.
“To be honest, I didn’t even watch football,” Moore said. “I watched probably the ending of the Oregon and Penn State game and Georgia and Alabama game, but kind of what the step away from football has been, you know, we watch football all the time, so I kind of didn’t even watch that much.”
Play count
Moore explained the play count restrictions during his return game in Lincoln.
“I was on a play count based on just coming from, you know, the trainers and then the athletic and strength staff.
I was on a play count based on just coming from, you know, the trainers and then the athletic and strength staff.
They just made the decision on how many plays they wanted me to play because, like if you go out there and play, you know, I’m used to playing 60 snaps, but if you go out there and play 60 snaps your first game, it’s kind of you might set yourself back. So that was really their concern on that.”
Rod Moore
Moore said he has not yet discussed his snap count for the upcoming game against the Wisconsin Badgers.
“It’s probably more of a conversation towards the end of the week just in front of him,” Moore said.
Making first tackle
Reflecting on his first tackle back, Moore said it was a welcome-back moment.
“The first play I was in, I just wanted to go hit something. So, I ran into Suge (Jyaire Hill) on the first time, and I was like, ‘Oh, my bad, bro,’" Moore said. “And then the second time, I just made the tackle, and it was like, ‘Oh, okay. I’m back playing football again.’ It’s just like that again.”
Moore also noted that live tackling in practice has not happened yet this season.
“In our practice, we really don’t go live. Especially in season, it’s more at camp where we go live. But yeah, that was like the first time I actually, you know, tackle somebody this year.”
Returning to Michigan Stadium
Looking ahead to playing at Michigan Stadium, Moore expects an emotional atmosphere.
“I think it’ll be even more emotional than it was away because, you know, it’s back at home and it’s a ‘maize out’ so I know it’ll be a great atmosphere. Just can’t wait to do it,” Moore said.
Mental challenge
When asked about the mental challenges of being sidelined, Moore shared what helped him stay positive.
“It was really tough mentally, you know, because after the first surgery I had, I kind of thought I was going to maybe not play but be in a better position than I was coming back to that same time of this year.
So, I kind of leaned on, you know, my parents, teammates, and then just all my friends, keeping my spirits and really God and staying positive with everything because, you know, sometimes in this journey, you’ll come back from injury, there’s a lot of negatives, and I dealt with a lot of negatives and like your emotions can’t take over that, especially when you’re trying to have a good day of progressing and taking the next step each and every day.
So, I think it was just staying in good spirits and, you know, talking to the people that are really close to me in my circle.”
So, I kind of leaned on, you know, my parents, teammates, and then just all my friends, keeping my spirits and really God and staying positive with everything because, you know, sometimes in this journey, you’ll come back from injury, there’s a lot of negatives, and I dealt with a lot of negatives and like your emotions can’t take over that, especially when you’re trying to have a good day of progressing and taking the next step each and every day.
So, I think it was just staying in good spirits and, you know, talking to the people that are really close to me in my circle.”
Rod Moore
Motivational push
Moore also reflected on his motivation to push through setbacks.
“It’s a lot. For one, I love the game of football. So, I just wanted to come back and play football again.“It’s a lot.
For one, I love the game of football. So, I just wanted to come back and play football again.
But, just getting raised in the household that I was raised in with my mom and dad, not quitting and just keep pushing forward and just doing everything for my parents.
Like, they sent me here to come get an education and be successful. And that’s what I always leaned on.
And then, like my grandma, who passed unfortunately a couple of years back, I always told her that I would go to the NFL.
So that was really just like my why. And then one of my friends that passed as well. We’ve always had a talk, like you know, being successful in sports, and that’s what really keeps me going every day.”
Rod Moore
Offensive boost
On the boost the offense’s strong performance gives the defense, Moore said, it helps with rest and energy.
“It gives us a boost because it gives us a lot of time to get our breath and our feet back rather than, you know, getting a three and out, coming on the bench, three plays later going back out there.
It gives us a boost because it gives us a lot of time to get our breath and our feet back rather than, you know, getting a three and out, coming on the bench, three plays later going back out there,” Moore said.
So it’s just complimentary football. That’s really what gets you to win games. And the year we won the natty, that’s what it was.
It was always the offense, you know, complimenting the defense. If the offense has a turnover, we go back and get the ball back for them. So, you know, that’s just how it’s supposed to go.”
Rod Moore
Watch Moore take his first steps inside The Big House in his emotional home return on Saturday, Oct. 4, against the Badgers at high noon.