Name: R.J. Moten
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 223 lbs.
High school: Delran (NJ) Delran
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #6
Last year: I ranked Moten #52 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He started five games and made 34 tackles, 1 interception, and 4 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 68
Moten earned some practice buzz going into 2021, which gave me a feeling that he would come off a redshirt year and play quite a bit. That turned out to be the case, as he ended up starting for approximately a third of the season. With Michigan shifting Daxton Hill to the nickel spot, Moten started next to Brad Hawkins early in the season. But as the year went along, he started to lose some playing time to freshman Rod Moore.
Now that Hill and Hawkins are gone, Moten is likely locked in as a starting safety. Some combination of Moten, Moore, and Makari Paige should be on the field, depending on how the nickel position shakes out. Moten has added 10 pounds since last year and will probably take on Hawkins's role, moving down in the box sometimes to take on tight ends and backs out of the backfield. Moten is a solid tackler with good range, and I think he will be a good player, though good safeties are often pretty forgettable.
Prediction: Starting safety; 65 tackles, 1 interception
No star defense ... we've got it. I sure hope it's more like 2011 than not
ReplyDeleteI put moten in the top 10. Every down player at one of the most critical positions. Not much depth either if Moore is at nickel. There are plenty of questions in the secondary but moten is a rock.
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