Michigan DB Rod Moore talks injury recovery, positive mindset: 'I still want to be impactful to this team'

Michigan Wolverines football senior safety Rod Moore went down with a leg injury in March, underwent surgery in April and is on the mend. He’s rehabbing this summer, and that process will continue into the fall. The 6-foot-0, 198-pound Ohio native is unsure if he’ll return this season — which could last until Jan. 20 if the Wolverines make it back to the national championship game — but that possibility is in the back of his mind.

“It’s a goal, for sure,” Moore said on The Wolverine Podcast when asked about potentially returning to the field during the 2024 season. “I’m not really pushing for it, but I want to push for it. If my knee and my recovery allows me to do it, then I’ll do it. If not, then we’ll see what my decision is then.”

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Michigan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan has raved about Moore, who was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season, and how he’s remained positive and continued to teach and lead his teammates even while being injured.

“At first, it was hard watching everybody play football and not being able to do it. But I talked to a lot of my family members and people close to me, and it was like, I just have to make the best of what my situation is. I came in as a freshman, and we all didn’t know the play book, but I had guys like Dax[ton Hill], Brad [Hawkins], DJ [Turner] helping me. They saw the talent that I had — and I see the talent in the room. It’s good to have somebody that helps you, especially when you’re coming in and trying to learn the play book.

“I just want to still be impactful to this team in my own way, even if I can’t be on the field.”

Moore has helped incoming transfers such as graduate cornerback Aamir Hall (Albany) and graduate safety Wesley Walker (Tennessee / Louisville) as they get acclimated.

“Usually in summer workouts we don’t meet like that, but this year we had everybody just go over the basics of the stuff,” Moore said. “Guys that came in are kinda like vets pretty much, so they already know how to come in and go over the play book and learn it themselves. They may have questions, but it’s been pretty good, because they already know what to do. Like Wes, Aamir, they’re going to be really good.”

Michigan graduate safety Makari Paige is underrated, too, Moore believes, and he’s back for his fifth season. Paige, a 6-foot-4, 208-pounder, made 41 tackles and 2 pass breakups last season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition while starting 13 outings.

“He’s all the way overlooked,” Moore said. “A lot of the plays I made and he makes, we make because of each other. We’ve been playing together for three years, and it’s a big thing when you have chemistry with the safety next to you, because you’re kinda playing off of each other.

“Makari is a really good player. You see how big he is, he’s 6-4, and he can move, too. Makari is probably one of the hardest hitters on the team. He’s smart, too. Makari is a problem.

“And ‘Q,’ [graduate Quinten Johnson] too. Don’t sleep on ‘Q.’ ‘Q’ is gonna be up there, too.”

Johnson didn’t decide to return for his sixth season in a winged helmet until mid-March, and he was limited this spring due to a hamstring injury. But Moore believes having the veteran back is crucial.

“Especially once I went down, it was like a big help because Makari’s not out there by himself,” Moore pointed out. “But him coming back is a big impact. We needed that depth, for sure, to be able to do what we did last year at safety and be the quarterback of the defense. With the more depth we have, it’s more guys you can have in the room.”

Rod Moore on breakout and surprise Michigan players

The Michigan defensive backfield is down three starters from a season ago, including Moore, so others are tasked with stepping up. Sophomore cornerback Jyaire Hill and junior nickel / safety Zeke Berry are two popular picks to break out.

“Zeke, for sure,” Moore said of who will step up. “Zeke is going to impact the team this year. And you saw a little bit of J-Mac, [senior] Ja’Den McBurrows, last year, but he’s gonna come in and get his stuff. And then Jyaire — Jyaire Hill. He’s gonna be a problem, too, because he didn’t really get to play. But you’re going to see all of them.

“[Hill is] long, and he’s fast. He’s sneaky fast; you wouldn’t think he’s fast, but he just knows how to play corner. He’s a raw corner.”

As far as the offense goes, Moore said surprise players will be graduate running back Kalel Mullings, sophomore wide receiver Fredrick Moore, junior quarterback Alex Orji and junior wideout Tyler Morris.

Outside his position group on defense, Moore talked about Maryland transfer and junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham in glowing terms.

“Man, man, man,” Moore said. “There was a time — before I got hurt — I’m coming down from the post, and one of our O-linemen tried to reach block him. Bro, BOOM! Lifted the dude up off his feet. 

“I only can say so much, but you’ve just gotta see it.”

In only 39 days, Michigan fans will get to see for themselves.