Alabama's Malachi Moore set to miss ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan due to injury

Alabama does not appear to have any non-NCAA transfer portal opt-outs for its ReliaQuest Bowl matchup against Michigan. Unfortunately, one of the program’s most tenured players is set to miss the game due to an injury. Malachi Moore is getting surgery for something that has been bothering him all season.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer revealed the news when speaking to the media on Wednesday. Although, he did not give exactly what the injury for Moore is.

“Kalen DeBoer said Malachi Moore is having surgery today for an injury he’s been dealing with all season and will be unavailable to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl,” Blake Byler of On3’s BOL said via X.

Moore has been a staple in the Alabama defense for five years now, even starting as a true freshman during the national championship-winning 2020 season. His time in Tuscaloosa has seen 64 total games played with 214 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven interceptions, and 25 pass breakups.

COVID-19 legibility rules allowed him to return in 2024, hoping to be a leader as the program transitioned from Nick Saban to DeBoer. His on-field contributions resulted in being named a first-team All-SEC member but his off-field leadership has been greater.

“I think the thing I want to make sure Bama fans know is that this guy has been rock solid and been a critical, critical piece, along with others, there are some others as well, of keeping this thing together since January,” DeBoer said about Moore in October. “When a lot of guys chose to leave, this guy stood firm. This guy loves Alabama football, he works relentlessly out there every single day on the football field.”

Sending Moore off with a win against Michigan in the bowl game was likely the goal but the injury will keep him out. Focus for him will now switch to the 2025 NFL Draft, where getting healthy and performing well throughout the process becomes a top priority.