ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Rod Moore was first named team captain for Michigan football in 2024, in what was supposed to be his senior season. But at the time that he had earned such an honor, there was major doubt as to whether or not he would see the field that season.
The standout safety could have gone pro, but opted to come back for another season, trying to run it back after a national championship but under a new head coach. However, he tore his ACL in spring ball, and the best-case scenario would be that he may have been able to suit up by The Game at the end of the year. However, he had a series of setbacks, and that didn't happen.
The next year, he was named a team captain again. There have been a few multi-season captains in Michigan history,
but Moore, again, mostly found himself relegated to the sideline. Those setbacks reared up again, and though he appeared in three games, his captaincy was mostly a vocal one, rather than one making a difference on the field.
Now, Moore has a third chance, as the first Michigan football player in the modern era to be named a team captain for a third time. And just getting that third successive vote is an honor for him.
"It means a lot," Moore said. "I really didn't think about it. I thought about it a little bit last night when I was talking to my parents. And I was just like, wow. First three-time captain in Michigan history at a school like Michigan. That's something that, you know, it's a blessing. It's really all glory to God.
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to be a three-time captain, even though it took a long time to, you know, the roads and trials and tribulations that I had to deal with to get to be a three-time captain and stay here that long. But it means a lot to me."
Now that Moore is fully healthy, he can't wait to be able to wear a 'C' on his jersey and actually lead out on the field rather than just vocally. He shared that because he'll actually get the opportunity, starting in Week 1, that makes this particular captaincy that much more important to him.
"This one probably means the most to me because I'm able to go out there and contribute to the team and lead the team actually physically instead of on the sideline locally," Moore said. "But, I mean, I just can't wait to go do it."
Just as crucial is that Moore served essentially as a coach in the past two years, learning the game and leading the defense -- even if it was from the sideline. Now that he has two more years of college football knowledge, how will that come to play when he is actually on the field? How will that help him?
He says that it's somewhat of a game-changer, as he has that much more understanding of the game that he can implement into his already instinctive play.
"I think it helps me a lot," Moore said. "I've been in college six years, and college football doesn't change. Maybe people do different plays and this and that. But seeing the game from the outside perspective and not doing it, like, it's very much slower to me. Like, especially when I'm at practice right now, it's just so easy to just be able to see what's coming, maybe, or understanding the game a lot easier. Being able to teach the young guys who's coming from high school, some of the guys who maybe haven't played a lot of college football, just understanding the game."
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Rod Moore makes history as Michigan football captain
