Moultry regains confidence, poised for a stellar season
AUBURN | T.D. Moultry has endured quite a journey to get to this point.
The senior from Birmingham, Alabama arrived at Auburn in 2017, but injuries and a lack of confidence hindered his development. Moultry had never quite lived up to the four-star billing that placed on him.
That was, until Bryan Harsin and his coaching staff arrived.
After a career-high seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack against Akron, consider the light is on and the switch flipped. Moultry, who was just voted honorary team captain for the Alabama State game, is ready to leave Auburn on a high.
“I’ve been in my lows and my highs,” Moultry said. “I understand being a captain means I keep being a consistent player and person. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder when people doubt me. I love it.”
Moultry could have left after the 2020 season, but decided to utilize his “super senior” season and take advantage of the opportunity to run out onto Pat Dye Field inside Jordan-Hare Stadium one more time.
Judging from Moultry’s passion during his interview with the media on Wednesday, there’s zero regret of that decision.
“I love Auburn. I don’t see anywhere else for T.D. to play at,” Moultry said. “Loving Auburn, that was the main focus.”
The 6-foot-2, 253-pound EDGE player is playing all over the defensive line. Whether it’s on the edge, playing the defensive tackle position and rushing during third-and-long situations, standing up, Derek Mason is finally showcasing everything Moultry has to offer.
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“They just show how versatile and what I can do,” Moultry said. “The coaches see it and I had never seen it in myself — the confidence was never there, and when I got the confidence, I believe I can do all the positions. Outside, inside, wherever.
“They tell me, just go play football. There’s not as much to think about, just go play football.”
But it goes deeper with Moultry, as he fights to remain confident and continue his journey of discovery into being the best individual he can be.
“I don’t want to listen to outside noise,” Moultry said. “I’m grateful. When things are good, they’re good, but when things are bad, people talk about you. They forget who the person and player is. I had to remember who the person and the player is. I can’t forget who I am.”
And who is Moultry? An extremely hard worker, his teammates say. Whether it’s Harsin, Derick Hall, or others, the echo heard about Moultry is his desire to work hard. Harsin said after the Akron game that Moultry “deserved” his stellar performance.
That comes from a mindset that Moultry instilled into himself during the offseason.
“I always told myself I was a walking millionaire, and I still am. I just didn’t have the confidence,” Moultry said. “Now, the confidence is there. It’s there before the game, it’s going to keep growing every game.”
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