Michigan senior safety Rod Moore has not played a live snap since January 2024, when the Wolverines defeated Washington in Houston to secure the 2023 national championship.
The veteran leader of the secondary tore his ACL last offseason, sidelining him for the entire 2024 campaign. Moore had targeted a return for the start of the 2025 season, but his recovery has taken longer than expected.
Now, his comeback could finally arrive this weekend when Michigan hosts Nebraska in its Big Ten opener. Although there is no guarantee, defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan said Moore is trending upward.
He has been active in pregame warmups for several weeks and continues to ramp up at practice.
"I'm excited for Rod," Morgan said. "He's been working really hard, he's trying to get a lot of volume at practice, trying to get all of the 1-on-1's, team reps and stuff like that. I think him and the medical team and his family have a good plan and we're just trying to support him when he's ready. I think he's trending in the right direction—being physical, running. His velocity is really good at practice, reps and stuff like that. I know his teammates are excited to get him back really soon."
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Morgan added that Moore’s return would provide a major boost despite solid play from the safeties who filled in.
"I think a kid like him, a young man like him, it's a calming factor (having him out there)," Morgan said. "Just like MIKE linebacker and how Ernie (Ernest Hausmann) does, guys like to be on the field with you because they know you know what's going on. And the communication—he's like a coach on the field. I just think you get a leader and a role model, and I think our guys have seen how he has battled back from the injury he's had and everything he's done right with trying to get back, and I just think he has a lot of respect."
Kickoff between Michigan and Nebraska is set for 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday on CBS.
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