University of Connecticut Athletics
Getting to Know the Freshmen: DL Justin Moore
11/13/2019 6:50:00โฏPM | Football
Defensive lineman Justin Moore is one of the friendliest faces on the UConn football team. At 6-4, 270 pounds, he's an imposing figure, but he carries himself with a smile and happy demeanor. Moore is from Carrollton, Texas, and he played for hall-of-famer Mike Singletary at Texas Christian Academy. Along with football, Moore was also a standout baseball player in high school. He has a real love for the game of football, and that was evident in our interview with him last week, where Moore had a lot to say about many different topics.
Q: You're all the way from Texas, so why UConn?
JM: I just knew UConn had so much to provide for me outside of football. With all the offers I had, I felt like this school provided the best of both worlds for me with great coaches and a great academic program. I thought I could thrive in both ways and become the best man academically, become better in the classroom and get a great job after football if the [NFL] isn't for me. Also, it puts me in a really great place to make me a better athlete to get to the NFL.
Q: What type of job would you like to have if you don't end up playing professional football?
JM: My dream job would be a general manager for a professional team, like the Mavericks or the Cowboys.
Q: So you're a Dallas sports fan?
JM: I am.
Q: Who's your favorite professional athlete?
JM: He's actually retired now. He was a running back for the Eagles, Brian Westbrook.
Q: So how does Storrs, Connecticut compare to your hometown in Texas?
JM: It's a little slower, a little quieter, which I kinda like. I enjoy the quietness and not always having 112-degree heat being outside. I'm getting used to the cold. My first freeze was a little bit rough, but I'm getting used to it.
Q: What do you like most about playing football at UConn so far?
JM: I love my teammates. It's something I was afraid of when I came in here that I wouldn't really bond with them well because I was from so far away and people were different. But I feel like in this locker room, it doesn't matter where you're from or who you are or what you believe in. Everyone is best friends, teammates, your brothers for life, and I feel like that's just what football does in general no matter what team you're on. But just being here, seeing my coaches and my teammates every single day, even though I spend like five hours-a-day with them, I feel like I never get annoyed and I love all of them.
Q: How does the atmosphere of this team compare to prior teams you've played on?
JM: It feels different because obviously there's a difference between high school and college football. High school, it wasn't as serious. It was more all fun and games. If you missed a practice, oh well, or if you messed up a play, it was like, 'You'll get it next time.' Here, it's more in depth and people care a lot more. They want you to pay attention to detail and focus on everything you need to do for each play.
Q: How do you feel you've improved so far this season?
JM: I feel that I've improved mentally. I could've described myself as lazy in high school or that I could get by on my athleticism alone. But here, everyone's, if not just as good as you, better than you. It's pushed me to become even a better athlete than I already am because everyone here is bigger, faster, stronger and it just makes you want to work harder every day.
Q: How do you feel that this season so far has prepared you for when you get a bigger role and start playing a lot?
JM: It's prepared me because I've seen the pros and cons of the starters above me. I've seen what they've messed up on, I've seen what they've done amazing on, so I can duplicate the things they've done to be successful in that position. But I can also take notes on what they've done wrong and better myself and prepare myself for the future so I can hold my spot and keep it.
Q: How do you feel you fit into this defensive line unit?
JM: I feel like I fit in pretty well. It's a pretty young defensive line in general, so I think we all kind of gel together chemistry-wise in general because we have a lot of young players. I feel skill-wise, I fit perfectly. We have a lot of big guys, like Travis [Jones] and Caleb [Thomas] and all them. Then we have our speed guys in Dillon [Harris] and KK [Kevon Jones] and Eric [Watts]. I feel like I'm right in the middle, so I'll be able to do a little bit of everything.
Q: What's been the toughest adjustment for you from high school to college football?
JM: Toughest adjustment is not being a one-dimensional guy in the aspects of football and school. With the amount of work it takes for you to be an amazing athlete here, there's also a lot of work, with it being such an amazing school, that I have to do in the classroom. So I think the hardest thing for me is focusing on one thing at a time and taking it step by step rather than just not doing anything.
Q: What do you think is the best thing you bring to this team?
JM: Chemistry and the love of the game because I feel like up here in Division I, it's kind of easy to lose the love of the game. Sometimes it may seem like a job or you'll get bored or it gets tiring, but I feel like with me, I'm always going to be the same guy everyday. I love playing. There's nothing that will ever turn me away from loving to play football. I feel like I bring that to the team to know if there's ever someone down who feels like they don't want to do this, I'm always here and I'm always gonna be the one pushing everyone, wanting to be great.
Q: What's something you'd like to accomplish during your time here?
JM: As a player, I want to at least go to two bowl games while I'm here. We'll start with one, but my goal is at minimum two. I want to have my picture on the wall outside of Burton. At least, my goal is to be remembered. I don't want to be a player that was on the team but no one remembers that they were there. I want to at least make an impact in one way, shape or form on this roster.
