Michigan Wolverines safety Rod Moore is returning for his sixth season after the NCAA granted him an additional year of eligibility. But coming back hasn't been easy for Moore, who is working his way back from a serious injury he suffered in 2024.

“It's hard for me to put it in words, the feeling that you feel, because there's been times where I was sitting there, like, would I ever even play football again?” Moore told Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast.

The 22-year-old started his college football journey in 2021 and had his breakout season in 2022, where he racked up 71 tackles, four interceptions and three passes defended.

“Some of them coming straight from high school thinking that it's about to be peaches and cream in college, and it's not,” Moore added.

During spring practice after the 2023 national championship title run, Moore tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee. That led to him missing the 2024 season entirely following surgery to repair the ACL.

“If you sit there and get mad and dwell on your situation, it's not going to get better. So you just gotta stay positive,” Moore said. “I kind of really just knew it was a smarter decision…I wasn't ready and just wait till my time comes to be ready again.”

Moore had to go through three separate surgeries to completely heal the knee. The second came in early 2025 to repair a lingering meniscus issue, and this past January, he underwent a third cleanup procedure to remove scar tissue that was causing discomfort.

But finally, the safety will be back for his sixth year, and he says he is ready to come back stronger than ever.

“Feeling the Best”: Rod Moore Says He's Ready After Three Surgeries

After playing in just three games last season, Rod Moore can't wait to get going this year and says he's feeling the best he has in a long time.

“I'm feeling the best I felt since March 27, 2024. That's the exact day I tore my ACL...Took three surgeries, but now I'm feeling like I haven't felt since the past two years. I'm out, moving around, running straight line back, feeling fast again, and it's just a matter of getting the coordination back under my feet,” Moore said.

Moore explained how difficult it is to come back from such an injury because the body "forgets how to do certain things." That has taken a toll physically, as he now has to properly warm up before hitting the field to avoid pulling muscles.

As he makes his return, Moore will play under a third head coach, Kyle Whittingham, having previously played for Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Shubhi Rathore

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore