Veteran Alabama DB Malachi Moore having fun playing multiple positions in camp

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Malachi Moore is a veteran in the Alabama secondary. Now a senior for the Crimson Tide, Moore has seen the field in each of his first three seasons at the college level and is poised to once again make an impact in Year 4, while also being more of a leader.

Moore is expected to be a big part of Alabama’s 2023 defense, but the versatile defensive back can wear several hats and exactly where he will line up for the first game remains to be seen.

In the spring, he primarily practiced at safety with the first-team defense, but he moved back to a familiar role at Star, or the nickel defensive back, after a couple of players entered the transfer portal. To begin preseason camp this month, Moore has spent time at both positions but played the Star when the Crimson Tide was in its nickel and dime formations last weekend.

Moore spoke to local reporters Monday and discussed the challenges of playing two positions.

“I would say the challenging thing is the different calls that safety and Star have to make,” Moore said. “It’s kind of fun to me moving around because it brings new challenges and shows that you’re versatile, and I like being able to do multiple things because you never know what can happen in a game.

“I feel like we have a lot of guys that are learning multiple positions and doing a great job of that just in case so we can have depth at all those positions.”

Moore has played in 39 games over the last three years and started games at Star in all three seasons. Late in his freshman year in 2020, he dealt with an injury that proved to be a nagging setback, giving way for Brian Branch to step in in the slot. But with Branch, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams all turning pro, Alabama needs Moore to be on the field this fall.

Does the versatile and veteran defensive back have a preference for where that will be?

“Not really,” Moore said. “Just the Star position I’ve been playing a little bit longer, so I know a lot of the adjustments and things that’s coming. But safety is also fun, to me, to play. I don’t know. It makes me excited when I get to move around and stuff like that.”

Moore’s mindset of being open to filling whatever role the coaching staff asks of him mirrors the message from new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who said the most exciting thing about the group he is coaching in his return to the Alabama coaching staff is it is “coachable.”

“That’s one thing we’ve kind of tried to emphasize as a group, as a team and our position, just be coachable,” Moore said. “To all the young guys that’s going out there in camp right now, it’s hot, you’re not gonna know a lot of stuff. You’re gonna mess up because I remember when I got here, I messed up. You just gotta go full speed, and we’ll correct it later. Just go full speed and take coaching and be coachable and always be eager to listen and learn.”

On Monday, Moore discussed some of Alabama’s new or less-experienced safeties.

On Caleb Downs…

“I would just say his focus at a young age coming in. This is fixing to be our Day 4 of practice, but he went through spring with us and just seeing how he goes about his business has been the biggest eye-opening thing to me.”

On Jaylen Key…

“Key coming in, he’s always been a hard worker since the day he got here. He continues to come in day in and day out and put in work. Learning the defense and learn as much as he can and try to make an impact for this defense.”

On DeVonta Smith…

“I would say Ta’s biggest thing was just learning the plays. And he’s done a great job of coming in and learning the adjustments and thinking forward to when the offense is motioning and being ahead of all the tasks and ahead of all the calls and communicating with the corners, the Stars, even the linebackers. I like the way Ta’s progressing.”

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