Billy Napier Updates Gators CB Devin Moore's Status After Upper-Body Injury

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A notable absentee from the Florida Gators' first practice in full pads on Saturday was cornerback Devin Moore.

Returning from a shoulder injury that shortened his inaugural campaign in Gainesville to five appearances, just enough to burn his redshirt, Moore has reacclimated well and earned praise as the potential next man up in Corey Raymond's group of boundary corners.

He's slated to take on a major role in the secondary rotation and is in the midst of a competition with redshirt junior Jalen Kimber for the starting spot opposite junior Jason Marshall Jr. As a result, his nonappearance Saturday was a significant void for Florida's defense.

On Monday, head coach Billy Napier shed light on the reasoning behind it.

"Devin Moore is in return to play protocol," Napier said. "Should be a couple of days here, and he'll be back. Just an upper-body injury there, but he'll be back and ready to go soon."

The Naples (Fla.) product was injected into the Gators' lineup in week one against Utah, playing a prominent role on the final drive to make a crucial tackle on wideout Money Parks with under a minute left to force the Utes to burn their second timeout.

Moore maintained his spot in the rotation, presenting the traits needed to take over as the next face of the Gators cornerback room upon Marshall's exit. However, the injury he sustained derailed his promising freshman season. He endured surgery on Nov. 2, effectively ending his first year in Gainesville after recording six tackles in five appearances.

It was a roller coaster of a year for Moore.

"The first part of the season, just having that opportunity to get on the field early, it definitely was a blessing," Moore said on Thursday. "It just felt like a lot of the hard work that my coaches preached, even the strength staff, and all of the help that my teammates gave me too, it definitely seemed like it paid off.

"And then come Missouri week, I took a bad fall and it kind of sent me down on a roller coaster a little bit. I feel like I came out of that experience with so much more of the mental game down and honestly, I looked at it as more of a blessing and a lesson."

Now, having rehabilitated to full strength this offseason, Moore is set to perform as a staple in the Gators' restructured, press-man coverage defense this year. He said he feels equipped to produce at a high level.

"I'd definitely say this year is more tailored to kind of denying the ball, making the offense earn it," he said of the defense. "I'm a long guy. I can run a little bit too. So, you know, just getting hands on the receiver at the line and just denying the ball, that's something I like to do a lot."

In the meantime, true freshmen Ja'Keem Jackson and Dijon Johnson will see an increase in snaps to patch the hole Moore leaves behind. Those freshmen are expected to contribute as part of the five-deep cornerback rotation Florida will employ this season, running on a similar track of development to Moore prior to the latter's season-ending shoulder injury last year.

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