ESPN grapples with ranking Michigan's Rod Moore for 2025 after ACL injury recovery
Ever since he started getting playing time late in the 2021 season, it became clear that Michigan Wolverines safety Rod Moore was a star in the making. Despite being a three-star recruit, Moore has always played well above his ranking, and he's made huge plays to show for it -- the biggest being the crucial interception at the end of The Game in 2023 to seal the maize and blue's victory over Ohio State.
Moore was coerced to return for his senior season, despite having a very good opportunity to go pro after Michigan football won the national championship, but he tore his ACL in spring ball, taking him out for the entire season. Now that he's set to return for his fifth-year, the Wolverines will be relying heavily on his services, his leadership, and his intelligence to help out a mostly unproven safety room entering 2025.
Earlier this week, ESPN put out a list of five college football players at each position in an effort to preview that 2026 NFL draft. Rod Moore came in ranked No. 5 among the safeties according to one of the two rankers, but the worldwide leader acknowledged that with his knee injury, it's a bit difficult to figure out just how good he might be this coming season.
Toughest player to rank: Moore. The fifth-year senior missed last season after suffering a torn ACL in the spring of 2024. If he can return to his previous level of play (six combined interceptions in 2022-23), that's a huge win for the Michigan defense and could push Moore near the top of the safety class. But scouts are in wait-and-see mode as he returns from injury.
Before the injury, Moore was among PFF's top returning safeties in the sport. Of course, he could have some growing pains returning to form after a whole year of not playing football.
Besides Moore, junior Brandyn Hillman, sophomore Mason Curtis, senior Jaden Mangham, and others will be in rotation at the safety position in 2025.
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