Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/92992
years," head coach Brian Kelly said. "He's been a better football player for us this year. It's night and day in my eyes, outside of the statistics, as to his impact last year to this year." Lewis-Moore keeps busy by clear- ing paths for the linebackers behind him and tutoring the rising stars that line up next to him. Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix, both in their second year of football eligibility, count on Lewis- Moore's experience and his baritone voice to get them in the right spots before each snap. "Him being like an eighth-year se- nior, he knows everything," Nix said. "Sometimes we might have a brain fart and forget a few things. He keeps us in line and makes sure we're doing the right things. He manufactures the d-line basically." It's been five years since Lewis- Moore arrived on campus, although he admits it feels more like eight some- times. That defensive line was a weak link then, to put it politely. Now, it's the driving force behind the nation's second-best scoring defense and an almost-certain BCS berth. Scorekeepers may not have noticed though his ability to get to the quar- terback has improved this year. He set career highs with 3.5 sacks and seven hurries through nine games. Mayock said Lewis-Moore likely will be a steal for an NFL team because of his un- derrated athleticism and his ability to play both inside and outside in differ- ent schemes. "The NFL world is starting to take notice of him a little bit more," Mayock said. "He is a really solid foot- ball player. His numbers aren't great, but he does what Notre Dame asks him to do within the confines of their scheme." His biggest asset to the Irish remains that overflowing energy bucket. Team- mates say he is without fail the first to boost their confidence when needed or congratulate them after a big play. He rallies the team during each pregame warm-up and prior to each opening kick. His magnetic draw is the main reason Kelly and his staff named Lewis-Moore one of the team's four captains in his final season. That was a shock to him, one that the impact Lewis-Moore makes on his team, but coaches — both college and pro — have. He started the season among the top 250 players on most 2013 prospect boards, and his stock is on the rise. It would be a shock if he didn't hear his name called on draft day, according to Mike Mayock, NBC color commentator and NFL Draft analyst. Lewis-Moore isn't equipped to be the type of elite pass rusher that teams hunt for in the first round, even brought him to tears when he first ad- dressed his team as their leader. He promised them to keep it light from there on out. "I'm going to keep being goofy and funny. I'm going to dance a little bit, I'm going to keep being me," he told them. "I just gotta be me." A lot has changed since Lewis- Moore recovered a fumble in his first collegiate game against Nevada in 2009. But 39 wins, 169 tackles and some 85 pounds later, Kapron Lewis- Moore, in all his sonorous essence, is still the same. ✦