Derrick Moore talks game-winning stop vs. Alabama, reaching his potential
Michigan sophomore defensive end Derrick Moore was one whose name came up consistently when he first arrived as a true freshman as “one to watch.” His raw athleticism was off the charts – yet another athletic “freak” — and it was only a matter of time, coaches and teammates said, before he would make his mark as a U-M great.
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He might not be there yet, but he’s getting closer and closer. He proved it by being on the field for the biggest play of the year and producing, he and edge Josaiah Stewart combining to stop Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on fourth and goal from the 3 to clinch an overtime win in the Rose Bowl. He got underneath a blocker who was bear hugging him while Stewart put a 360-pounder tackle on his butt, pushing him back into Milroe.
“First, I’ve got to say shout out to Josiah. He put a first rounder on his back, you know,” Moore said. “I was just there to clean up for the tackle.
“But it was a great moment. At the time, I didn’t know I made the tackle. I got up and saw everybody running around, screaming, everything like that. I took in the moment during the time, but when I went back and saw the play I said, ‘that’s crazy.’ It was a great moment to be in on that tackle.”
Moore couldn’t even tell he was being tackled by his own blocker on the play, he said, nor did he care. All he wanted to do was get up and celebrate with his teammates.
It’s a far cry from where he was a year ago, a young freshman playing behind future NFL draft picks. Michigan has become “Defensive End U.,” and while Moore understood he had to wait his turn, he admitted it was a bit frustrating given what he’d been used to.
A year later, he’s in better position to realize how much it’s helped him.
“It was a little frustrating, but I feel like if I wasn’t able to play behind guys like Mike Morris, Braiden McGregor, I probably wouldn’t be able to get a learning experience from the older guys. If it wasn’t for having them around, I probably never would have gotten my confidence going into this year. During the offeseason, those guys helped me training with them during the offseason to help reach my skill level.
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“Now, I’m more comfortable in the scheme, in the defense, even being comfortable around my teammates. That was probably my biggest thing for me, playing comfortable, being comfortable. If you are, you’re able to play fast and physical, things like that.”
And he’s no longer worried that he’s going to make a mistake that keeps him from going back into the game. He was out there for the biggest moment in the Rose Bowl, and we expect more of that going forward.
It’s not lost on him that he’s going to be playing on the biggest stage in college football, and he can’t wait.
“It takes a lot [to get here],” Moore said. “Never in my life did I think I’d be on a national level stage. It’s a great feeling just to be here right now. When we win it all, it’s going to be an even better feeling.”
If they do, chances are he will likely have played a key role once again.
