A. J. Moore
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = A. J. Moore
| image = AJ Moore (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Moore with the Houston Texans in 2021
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Bassfield, Mississippi, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 202
| high_school = Bassfield
| college = Ole Miss (2014–2017)
| undraftedyear = 2018
| pastteams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2022}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 69
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 1.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 =
| pfr = M/MoorA.00
}}
Alvin James "A. J." Moore Jr. (born December 15, 1995) is an American professional football safety. He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Early life
Moore was born and grew up in Bassfield, Mississippi, and attended Bassfield High School. He played both safety and running back for the Yellowjackets. As a senior, Moore was named first-team All-State by The Clarion-Ledger after he made 132 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks on defense and also rushed for five touchdowns as Bassfield went 15–1 and won the Class 2A state championship.{{cite web|url=https://hottytoddy.com/2014/02/05/twin-rebels-bring-athleticism-to-defense/|title=Twin Rebels Bring Athleticism to Defense|website=HottyToddy.com|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2019}} He was a childhood friend and high school teammate of future Texans teammate Cornell Armstrong.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/300905/bassfield-boys-are-definitely-beating-the-odds-in-the-nfl|title=Three NFL players from a tiny town of 300? Meet the Bassfield Boys|first=Sarah|last=Barshop|website=ESPN.com|date=September 25, 2019|access-date=October 2, 2019}}
College career
Moore played four seasons for the Rebels, appearing in 39 games. Over the course of his collegiate career he accumulated 132 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes deflected. As a senior, Moore started all 12 of the Rebels' games at nickleback and registered 48 tackles, as well as a sack, a fumble recovery, and three passes deflected.{{cite web|url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2018/7/2/17523280/new-england-patriots-2018-roster-breakdown-cornerback-aj-moore-ole-miss|title=New England Patriots 2018 roster breakdown: #TBD CB A.J. Moore|first=Bernd|last=Buchmasser|work=Pats Pulpit|publisher=SB Nation|date=July 2, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2018}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/4
| weight = 200
| dash = 4.40
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.38
| cone drill = 7.27
| vertical = 34.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 17
| arm span = 32 1/8
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1001419&DraftYear=2018 |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout A.J. Moore College Football Profile |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=New England Patriots=
Moore signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/04/30/patriots-sign-10-undrafted-free-agents-punters-cornerbacks-defensive-end/|title=Patriots Sign 10 Undrafted Free Agents; Two Punters, Two Cornerbacks, Productive Defensive End Among Them|first=Michael|last=Hurley|work=boston.cbslocal.com|publisher=CBS Boston|date=April 30, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2018}} He was waived by the Patriots at the end of the preseason as part of the team's final roster cuts.{{cite web|url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2018/9/1/17809870/2018-new-england-patriots-nfl-roster-cuts-release-linebacker-marquis-flowers-safety-aj-moore|title=2018 Patriots roster cuts: New England releases linebacker Marquis Flowers, safety A.J. Moore|first=Bernd|last=Buchmasser|work=Pats Pulpit|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 1, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2018}}
=Houston Texans=
Moore was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans on September 2, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/09/02/texans-claim-buddy-howell-natrell-jamerson-a-j-moore/|title=Texans claim Buddy Howell, Natrell Jamerson, A.J. Moore|first=Charean|last=Williams|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=September 2, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2018}} He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, during the Texans season opener against the Patriots.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201809090nwe.htm#all_vis_snap_counts|title=Houston Texans at New England Patriots - September 9th, 2018-Snap counts|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=October 24, 2018}} In his rookie season Moore appeared in all 16 of the Texans regular season games, playing exclusively on special teams and making a team-leading 11 tackles and recovering one fumble.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorA.00.htm|title=A.J. Moore Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/oh-how-special-texans-improved-drastically-from-2017-in-key-area|title=Oh how special: Texans improved drastically from 2017 in key area|first=Drew|last=Dougherty|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2019}} In 2019, he played in all 16 of the Texans regular season games, appearing mostly on special teams but also playing 19 snaps on defense, with 14 total tackles and also played in both of the team's postseason games with one special teams tackle.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/texans-a-j-moore-fills-special-teams-role-in-2019/|title=Texans' A.J. Moore: Fills special-teams role in 2019|website=CBSSports.com|publisher=RotoWire|date=January 29, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2020}}
Moore was named a team captain by the Texans for the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Former-Rebel-AJ-Moore-named-a-captain-for-Houston-Texans-Ole-Miss-Rebels-Bill-OBrien-SEC-151249290/|title=Former Rebel A.J. Moore named a captain for Houston Texans|first=Ben|last=Garrett|website=247Sports.com|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 11, 2020}} He was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on September 28, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/earl-thomas-workout-houston-texans|title=All-Pro safety Earl Thomas has workout scheduled with Texans, expected to sign this week|first=James|last=Rapien|website=SI.com|date=September 28, 2020|access-date=September 28, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Texans Roster Transactions (9-28-20)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-roster-transactions-9-28-20|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=September 28, 2020}} He was activated on November 14, 2020.{{cite news |title=Houston Texans Transactions (11-14-20) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-11-14-20 |website=HoustonTexans.com |date=November 14, 2020 |accessdate=December 23, 2020}} In Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts, Moore recorded his first career sack on Philip Rivers during the 26–20 loss.{{Cite web |title= Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans - December 6th, 2020 |url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202012060htx.htm |access-date=2020-12-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
The Texans placed a restricted free agent tender on Moore on March 17, 2021.{{cite news |author=Williams, Charean |title=Darious Williams only one of 26 RFAs in NFL to receive first-round tender |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/17/darious-williams-only-one-of-26-rfas-in-nfl-to-receive-first-round-tender/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=March 17, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021}} He signed the one-year contract on April 7.{{cite news |author=Alper, Josh |title=A.J. Moore signs restricted free agent tender |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/07/a-j-moore-signs-restricted-free-agent-tender/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=April 8, 2021}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2021.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (9-2-2021)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-9-2-2021|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=September 2, 2021}} He was activated on October 2, 2021.
=Tennessee Titans=
On March 21, 2022, Moore signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.{{cite web|title=Titans Agree to Terms With DB/Special Teams Ace A.J. Moore|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-db-special-teams-ace-a-j-moore|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=March 21, 2022}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 13, 2022.{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Roster Moves: Titans Place DL Da'Shawn Hand, DB A.J. Moore Jr. on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/roster-moves-titans-place-dl-da-shawn-hand-db-a-j-moore-jr-on-injured-reserve |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=TennesseeTitans.com}}
On July 26, 2023, Moore re-signed with the Titans.{{cite web|title=Titans Agree to Terms with Veteran DB/Safety A.J. Moore|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-agree-to-terms-with-veteran-db-safety-a-j-moore|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=July 26, 2023}} He was waived on August 20.{{cite web|title=Titans Waive Defensive Back A.J. Moore|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-waive-defensive-back-a-j-moore|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 20, 2023}}
Personal life
Moore has an identical twin brother, C. J. Moore, who was also a defensive back on the Ole Miss football team and played for the Detroit Lions. They played in the same defensive backfield for the Rebels.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2017/09/08/moore-twins-a-j-and-c-j-have-taken-long-route-ole-miss-staring-lineup/645509001/|title=The Moore twins, A.J. and C.J., have taken a long route to Ole Miss' starting lineup|first=Antonio|last=Morales|work=The Clarion-Ledger|publisher=USA Today|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=October 24, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://olemisssports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=409 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, A. J.}}
Category:American identical twins
Category:People from Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
Category:Players of American football from Mississippi
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American football safeties
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Houston Texans players