Tag: Rod Moore

2026 Season Countdown: #13 Rod Moore

Name: Rod Moore
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Safety
Class: Sixth year senior
Jersey number: #1
Last year: I ranked Moore #20 and said he would be a starting safety if healthy. He made 6 tackles and 1 interception while starting one game and playing in three.

Rod Moore has seemingly been around Michigan forever, to the point where I remember watching his high school film during the COVID pandemic while sitting around the house and twiddling my thumbs. If one can be a hero of an Ohio State victory . . . and also a somewhat out-of-sight, out-of-mind entity, well, that’s kind of Rod Moore.

After being named a Third Team All-Big Ten safety in 2023 (38 tackles, 2 interceptions), he seemed primed for a big 2024 when he got injured in the off-season. A potential NFL career was derailed – or perhaps just postponed – as Moore stuck around and rehabbed while missing the entire 2024 season. He then had some setbacks putting his 2025 season in jeopardy.

But he returned triumphantly with an interception in his second game of the 2025 season with an interception against Wisconsin! The next week, he started against USC, made 4 tackles, and . . . was not seen again. Another setback with the knee knocked him out for the remained of 2025.

So now we’re entering 2026 and Moore supposedly feels better than he has at any point since 2023. He has been named a captain for a third year. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill says Moore is a shoo-in to start at safety, and he has been wearing the “green dot” much of the time as the primary communicator on the defensive side of the ball in practice. I believe he has now had three separate surgeries, but Michigan is looking at him as a focal point for 2026. There’s probably an argument to be made that a defensive captain should be ranked higher than #13 in the countdown, and I could probably argue that someone who has missed most of the past two seasons could be ranked lower because he just hasn’t produced much lately.

I think all Michigan fans are hoping that Moore can have a healthy season, even if he doesn’t quite return to 2023 form. After so much frustration and so many setbacks, it would be nice if he can just play a full season of football and complete his mission. I’m hoping for an All-American type season, but if he stays healthy, I’m thinking he could once again be a Third Team or Honorable Mention all-conference player and that would be a nice way for him to ride off into the Big House sunset.

Prediction: Starting safety (if healthy)

2025 Season Countdown: #20 Rod Moore

Name: Rod Moore
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 198 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Safety
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I did not rank Moore. He missed the season with a knee injury.
TTB Rating: 72

Rod Moore has been a mainstay in Michigan’s lineup since 2021. He has been a captain and has been named All-Big Ten in the past. Altogether, he has 141 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 6 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups in his career.

So why is he ranked at #20?

Well, unfortunately, Moore was bitten by the injury bug in the spring of 2024 and has really struggled to recover since then. He missed the 2024 season and has had multiple setbacks, causing him to miss spring practices this year, too. His status for 2025 is an unknown at this point, and even if he plays, will he be back to his previous form?

Other players are saying he’s like another coach on the field, but will he even be on the field this fall? And how much, if at all?

Due to the uncertainty, I’m ranking him at #20. With the numerous setbacks, I’m guessing he will not be available for the full season and will probably be a step slower than he used to be. I’m hoping that’s not the case, but Michigan does have a pretty deep safety group with Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham, T.J. Metcalf, and several others available to step in if needed.

Prediction: Starting safety (if healthy)

2023 All-Big Ten Selections

Michigan dominated the all-conference selections in 2023, which is to be somewhat expected with a 12-0 record.

FIRST TEAM
QB J.J. McCarthy (Coaches, Media)
RB Blake Corum (Coaches, Media)
OL La’Darius Henderson (Coaches)
OL Zak Zinter (Coaches, Media)
C Drake Nugent (Coaches, Media)
TE Colston Loveland (Coaches)
DL Mason Graham (Coaches)
DB Will Johnson (Coaches, Media)
DB Mike Sainristil (Media)

SECOND TEAM
WR Roman Wilson (Coaches, Media)
TE Colston Loveland (Media)
OL Karsen Barnhart (Coaches)
OL La’Darius Henderson (Media)
OL Trevor Keegan (Coaches, Media)
DL Kenneth Grant (Coaches)
DL Kris Jenkins, Jr. (Coaches, Media)
LB Junior Colson (Coaches, Media)
DB Mike Sainristil (Coaches)
K James Turner (Coaches)

THIRD TEAM
OL Karsen Barnhart (Media)
DL Mason Graham (Media)
DL Kenneth Grant (Media)
LB Michael Barrett (Coaches)
DB Rod Moore (Coaches)
P Tommy Doman (Media)

HONORABLE MENTION
WR Cornelius Johnson (Media)
TE A.J. Barner (Coaches, Media)
DL Jaylen Harrell (Coaches, Media)
DL Braiden McGregor (Coaches, Media)
DL Derrick Moore (Coaches, Media)
DL Josaiah Stewart (Coaches)
LB Michael Barrett (Media)
DB Rod Moore (Media)
DB Makari Paige (Coaches)
DB Josh Wallace (Coaches, Media)
K James Turner (Media)
P Tommy Doman (Media)
RET Semaj Morgan (Coaches, Media)

I believe every single Michigan starter is represented here except FB/TE Max Bredeson (1 start), OL Trente Jones (2 starts), WR Tyler Morris (2 starts), safety Keon Sabb (4 starts). Even a full-time backup in Derrick Moore – who has yet to start a single game – was named Honorable Mention by both the coaches and the media.

Do you see any snubs?

Personally, I think Mike Sainristil should have been 1st team to both coaches/media. Meanwhile, I’m surprised Barnhart was valued so highly since he struggled in pass protection so much, especially over the last three weeks of the season.

2023 Season Countdown: #5 Rod Moore

Name: Rod Moore
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 198 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Safety
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Moore #16 and said he would start at safety (LINK). He made 71 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 72

By this point Michigan fans are very familiar with the name Rod Moore, but I feel like he did not garner quite enough attention last season. Maybe it’s because he was in his first year as a starter, or maybe it’s because he was not a highly valued recruit. Whatever the reason, he turned in a great season for the Wolverines, notching 71 tackles and 4 interceptions. In fact, that season total of 4 interceptions is the highest season total for a Michigan safety since Dewayne Patmon in 1998. Moore was solid on the back end and did a great job of keeping things in front of him, rarely getting beaten for big plays.

Moore is one of the best safeties in recent Michigan history, both in coverage and when coming downhill to make tackles. He has good speed and is fairly physical, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time, which is probably more important than anything when playing the middle of the field. He’s supposedly a film junkie and has aspirations of playing in the NFL . . . in 2024. There has been some talk that his junior year of 2023 might be his last in the college ranks. I would expect him to be an all-conference player this season, backed up by Keon Sabb and/or Zeke Berry, both second-year players, and fifth year senior Quinten Johnson.

Prediction: Starting safety; 70 tackles, 2 interceptions

2022 Season Countdown: #16 Rod Moore

Name: Rod Moore
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont
Position: Safety
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Moore #87 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He started four games and made 32 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 72

Moore was a pleasant surprise in 2021. Safety is a difficult position at which to contribute for a freshman, but Moore stepped in and played in an experienced secondary. Older players like Makari Paige, Jalen Perry, and German Green were left on the sideline while the precocious freshman started big games down the stretch against Penn State, Ohio State, and Georgia. The coaching staff raved about him, and word out of practices suggested he was a football nut who watched film and prepared like a future pro.

So here Moore takes a giant leap, from #87 in 2021 to #16 in 2022. With the departure of Brad Hawkins and Daxton Hill, I could probably make an argument for Moore to be ranked even higher. But it’s hard for me to place a sophomore safety with four starts under his belt too awfully high in the countdown. After suffering an injury in the spring, he’s still expected to start this fall, whether it’s at safety or nickel. Other guys in the running seem to be R.J. Moten and Makari Paige, with fifth year senior German Green, redshirt junior Caden Kolesar, redshirt junior Jalen Perry, and freshman Keon Sabb all reportedly providing depth.

Prediction: Starting safety