Rod Moore appeared on this week’s episode of In The Trenches to discuss his rehab, as well as what he is doing to help the team find success in 2024.
How bad could Michigan football use the services of former All-Big Ten safety Rod Moore right about now? During a recent appearance on the In The Trenches podcast, Moore offered fans a glimpse into his ongoing recovery process, while also leaving open the possibility of returning to Michigan for the 2025 season.
Moore, who has been sidelined since suffering an ACL tear in March, acknowledged his rehab has hit some roadblocks.
“It’s going pretty good. It kind of hit a rocky point right now,” Moore said. “I was supposed to be running, but I haven’t started running yet because of some other stuff, but we figured it out. So we’re kind of going from there, trying to take it in stride.”
Of course this isn’t the first time the Dayton, Ohio native has battled his way back to the field. A lingering knee injury hampered Moore’s performance early in 2023, which contributed to his decision to return for his senior year. Reflecting on those challenges, Moore recalled missing the first few games and struggling upon his return.
“If you go back to the season, I kinda missed I think it was the first three or four games,” Moore said. “If it wasn’t the fourth game, I came back and still had a bad game. I wasn’t playing up to what I should’ve been playing at. And then toward the end of the season, I started to hit my stride and that led to the Ohio State interception. And the National Championship.”
Despite these accomplishments, Moore said he felt unfinished business at Michigan, particularly after a disappointing personal performance in the National Championship.
“I played terrible,” Moore admitted. “I blew probably about three coverages. And I was like, ‘I don’t think I like how I went out.’ … I don’t think I played good enough. And I know I could play better to where I could move my stock up.”
Moore cited his desire to raise his draft stock and complete his degree as additional factors for staying at Michigan. His mother’s encouragement to prioritize his education also played a role.
“And it was just too much up-in-the-air stuff,” Moore said. “It kinda was like, ‘Oh, you could go here, based off of this, that and the third,’ and it was just like, I don’t think I played well enough, and I know I can play better to where I can move my stock up.
“And then coming back for my senior year, my mom, she was like the focus of coming here was to get my degree and play football. And she was harping that in my ear, so I was like, ‘Maybe she’s right. I do need my degree, because there’s always life after football.’”
Although sidelined for now, Moore has embraced a new role as a leader and mentor. He has been lauded by head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan for his contributions off the field, helping guide younger players and transfers through Michigan’s defense.
“I’ll be out there trying to coach when I can,” Moore said, adding that his time on the sidelines has given him a new perspective on the game. “I’ve probably gotten smarter right now than when I was playing. I tell a lot of people that when you know what you’re going to get, you play faster. You don’t second guess yourself.”
While Moore remains focused on his recovery and helping his team any way he can, he did leave the door open for a potential return in 2025.
“If I ever got to play again, either this year or next year if I come back, the amount of plays that I could make — just by what I know, I’ll get,” Moore said. “It’s different when you know what you’re going to get because you know what you’re going to get. You play faster. You don’t second guess yourself. I think I’ll play a lot better when I’m able to play again.”
For now, Moore is determined to continue making an impact from the sidelines, but it’s certainly interesting he hasn’t ruled out a return to Michigan, making it possible that Wolverine fans may not have seen the last of him just yet.