The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 93 Ready To Lead And you're also no longer worried about making the mistake that keeps you from going back into the game. It's why the coaches trusted Moore and Josaiah Stewart, both backups at the time, to stay on the field against Alabama for the big- gest play of the year. Two timeouts had been called, so there was plenty of time for Minter to get McGregor and senior Jaylen Harrell back on the field, rested and ready. Instead, he relied on two younger guys who had helped them reach that point with outstanding games. Stewart blocked his man back into the play, tripping Milroe at the point of attack. Moore, meanwhile, destroyed the tight end, getting through him and filling the gap Milroe was trying to exploit. "It was a great moment, but I didn't really think too much about their play," Moore recalled. "When I got up, I just saw everybody running around. The band was going off, but I didn't even know I had him in my arms. "I was just so excited that we won it and were going to the natty. At the moment, I wasn't really thinking of it." He made it clear, though, that it wasn't a one-man effort. In a show of selflessness and leadership, he gave his teammates their props. "First, shout out to Josaiah. One-on- one, that was one hell of a play that he made on that tackle," Moore praised after the game. "[Alabama OT] JC Latham is projected to be a first-round pick [he was the seventh overall selection], and Josa- iah is coming from a smaller D-I college [Coastal Carolina]. Just to be able to share that moment with him …" Moore's postgame comments proved just how much he'd matured since his first year, one that wasn't always easy. Now, he'll be asked to be one of the savvy vet- eran leaders on a defense that could be special again in 2024, and he seems to un- derstand and appreciate what that entails. "We've got a lot of young guys on this team," the 6-foot-3, 258-pounder said. "Everybody knows we lost a lot of seniors [from the 2023 team] and a lot of guys that were great leaders. "My biggest focus right now for the team is being able to step up and play that leadership role that we had last year so the team can make it to another national championship." That he has his friend back with him on the other side makes it that much better, he said. Between them, Moore and Stew- art racked up 10.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. Some believe they're destined to be the best pass rushing duo in the Big Ten, and they don't shy away from the expectations. "It means a lot [for the team having Stewart back]," Moore said. "Also, for me "I'm focusing on learning the different angles when rushing against an offensive lineman, how to set up my pass-rush moves and knowing their tendencies." MOORE Moore (8) sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe during the second quarter of the Rose Bowl, and he was in on the game-clinching tackle of Milroe on fourth-and-3 in overtime that sent Michigan to the CFP National Cham- pionship game. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF