‘Don’t Put Limits On Yourself’
Oct 05, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
It was second-and-15 with 8 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter in Kansas State's season opener against Southeast Missouri that senior weakside linebacker Austin Moore, who is nicknamed "The Machine," struck without warning at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Lined up to the right side of the field, the 6-foot-1, 219-pound Moore bellied up to offensive tackle Jamarcus Hill and in one sweeping motion extended to the outside and grabbed running back Geno Hess across the waist, sending him to the ground for a one-yard loss.
Moore arose to his feet, and the celebration he allowed himself was subtly shaking his head as his defensive teammates swarmed him on the field.
"Austin Moore, 'The Machine,' is an elite player for this Kansas State defense!'" ESPN analyst Adam Breneman beamed.
It was one of a career-high three tackles for loss that Moore recorded in a 45-0 victory on September 2 — a trend that makes Moore among the best tackle-for-loss defenders in the FBS and the top tackler for the Wildcats for a second straight season.
"That's my favorite thing to do, is get those TFLs," Moore says. "I definitely get excited for those."
Moore, one of the humblest players you'll run across in the country, has a way about getting everyone excited.
A former walk-on, Moore had no recruiting stars next to his name and hailed from the northeast Kansas town of Louisburg, which has about 5,000 people, and he was an all-state running back and an all-conference linebacker. As a senior, he helped the Louisburg Wildcats to an 11-2 record and a berth in the 2018 state playoffs.
Today, Moore, a team captain, remains a testament of hard work while carrying on the K-State walk-on tradition. He prepares for his chance to add to his reputation when K-State, 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12, visits Oklahoma State, 2-2 and 0-1, in Friday's 6:30 p.m. kickoff (ESPN) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
"The Machine," tight end Ben Sinnott says, smiling. "He's such a hard worker and good leader. He's just such a good person. I just lifted with him this morning, just me and him, and it's great to spend time with him because he's such a great dude."
An All-Big 12 candidate, Moore is one of many K-State players to go from walk-on to starter, and he looks to join defensive ends Ian Campbell and Ryan Mueller, and defensive tackle Will Geary, as the only former walk-on defensive players to be named All-Big 12 multiple seasons in their career.
"You just watch him practice and watch him prepare, and there's a reason why he's one of the best linebackers in the Big 12," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says. "He's just the ultimate captain and the ultimate warrior for our guys."
Moore, who has started every game in 2022 and 2023, had a team-high 87 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season. Currently, he leads the team with 22 tackles and ranks 10th nationally with 1.8 tackles for loss per contest. He has at least one TFL in every game this season.
"A lot of it comes from the film room," says Moore, who estimates that he spends about 1 ½ hours per day entrenched in extra film study on top of regular meetings. One of Moore's passions is dissecting plays — looking at the running back's position in the backfield set, watching the tight end, and studying any "weird" formations.
"Seeing those little keys are the biggest things for me," he says.
Then there's the explosion on the field, the tackle, or in many cases, the tackle for loss — and the subtle celebration.
"He's the most unselfish guy, disciplined and committed guy," says defensive end Khalid Duke, who played at linebacker in 2022. "He's all about the core values. I came in with Austin in 2019, and he's always been one of the hardest-working guys. He's really worked his way up."
If there's a change to Moore's game this season, it comes in his presence as a vocal leader while bringing along talented first-year strongside linebacker Desmond Purnell, true freshman middle linebacker Austin Romaine, and backup weakside linebacker Jake Clifton.
"It feels good," Moore said. "So many guys have done it before me, and I know the impact they've had on me. I just want to be someone who can hopefully pass that on, too."
If there's been a personal struggle during Moore's career, it arrived when sixth-year senior middle linebacker Daniel Green, a fellow defensive standout, suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in a game at Missouri on September 16. Green is a friend and leader who Moore credits for helping him develop as a player.
"That was super tough," Moore says. "He's someone who I look to a lot and who has done so much for me. He took me under his wing like I'm trying to take some guys under my wing now. I've been playing for him every day and trying to honor him for everything he's done for me."
No doubt, Moore continues to make his injured teammate proud.
Moore also continues to make many more people proud as well.
This past Friday, he returned to Louisburg to watch his younger brother play football. Some fans wore Austin Moore No. 41 jerseys. Some children wanted to take photos.
"That's probably my favorite thing about all this, is just seeing the impact I've had on younger people," Moore says. "That's very special to me."
As is this journey from walk-on to star.
"You never know how much you're capable of," Moore says. "You can't put limits on yourself. I definitely never thought I'd be in this position when I first got here. Don't put limits on yourself.
"You can achieve far more than you think."
It was second-and-15 with 8 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter in Kansas State's season opener against Southeast Missouri that senior weakside linebacker Austin Moore, who is nicknamed "The Machine," struck without warning at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Lined up to the right side of the field, the 6-foot-1, 219-pound Moore bellied up to offensive tackle Jamarcus Hill and in one sweeping motion extended to the outside and grabbed running back Geno Hess across the waist, sending him to the ground for a one-yard loss.
Moore arose to his feet, and the celebration he allowed himself was subtly shaking his head as his defensive teammates swarmed him on the field.
"Austin Moore, 'The Machine,' is an elite player for this Kansas State defense!'" ESPN analyst Adam Breneman beamed.
It was one of a career-high three tackles for loss that Moore recorded in a 45-0 victory on September 2 — a trend that makes Moore among the best tackle-for-loss defenders in the FBS and the top tackler for the Wildcats for a second straight season.
"That's my favorite thing to do, is get those TFLs," Moore says. "I definitely get excited for those."
Moore, one of the humblest players you'll run across in the country, has a way about getting everyone excited.
A former walk-on, Moore had no recruiting stars next to his name and hailed from the northeast Kansas town of Louisburg, which has about 5,000 people, and he was an all-state running back and an all-conference linebacker. As a senior, he helped the Louisburg Wildcats to an 11-2 record and a berth in the 2018 state playoffs.
Today, Moore, a team captain, remains a testament of hard work while carrying on the K-State walk-on tradition. He prepares for his chance to add to his reputation when K-State, 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12, visits Oklahoma State, 2-2 and 0-1, in Friday's 6:30 p.m. kickoff (ESPN) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
"The Machine," tight end Ben Sinnott says, smiling. "He's such a hard worker and good leader. He's just such a good person. I just lifted with him this morning, just me and him, and it's great to spend time with him because he's such a great dude."
An All-Big 12 candidate, Moore is one of many K-State players to go from walk-on to starter, and he looks to join defensive ends Ian Campbell and Ryan Mueller, and defensive tackle Will Geary, as the only former walk-on defensive players to be named All-Big 12 multiple seasons in their career.
"You just watch him practice and watch him prepare, and there's a reason why he's one of the best linebackers in the Big 12," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says. "He's just the ultimate captain and the ultimate warrior for our guys."
Moore, who has started every game in 2022 and 2023, had a team-high 87 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season. Currently, he leads the team with 22 tackles and ranks 10th nationally with 1.8 tackles for loss per contest. He has at least one TFL in every game this season.
"A lot of it comes from the film room," says Moore, who estimates that he spends about 1 ½ hours per day entrenched in extra film study on top of regular meetings. One of Moore's passions is dissecting plays — looking at the running back's position in the backfield set, watching the tight end, and studying any "weird" formations.
"Seeing those little keys are the biggest things for me," he says.
Then there's the explosion on the field, the tackle, or in many cases, the tackle for loss — and the subtle celebration.
"He's the most unselfish guy, disciplined and committed guy," says defensive end Khalid Duke, who played at linebacker in 2022. "He's all about the core values. I came in with Austin in 2019, and he's always been one of the hardest-working guys. He's really worked his way up."
If there's a change to Moore's game this season, it comes in his presence as a vocal leader while bringing along talented first-year strongside linebacker Desmond Purnell, true freshman middle linebacker Austin Romaine, and backup weakside linebacker Jake Clifton.
"It feels good," Moore said. "So many guys have done it before me, and I know the impact they've had on me. I just want to be someone who can hopefully pass that on, too."
If there's been a personal struggle during Moore's career, it arrived when sixth-year senior middle linebacker Daniel Green, a fellow defensive standout, suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in a game at Missouri on September 16. Green is a friend and leader who Moore credits for helping him develop as a player.
"That was super tough," Moore says. "He's someone who I look to a lot and who has done so much for me. He took me under his wing like I'm trying to take some guys under my wing now. I've been playing for him every day and trying to honor him for everything he's done for me."
No doubt, Moore continues to make his injured teammate proud.
Moore also continues to make many more people proud as well.
This past Friday, he returned to Louisburg to watch his younger brother play football. Some fans wore Austin Moore No. 41 jerseys. Some children wanted to take photos.
"That's probably my favorite thing about all this, is just seeing the impact I've had on younger people," Moore says. "That's very special to me."
As is this journey from walk-on to star.
"You never know how much you're capable of," Moore says. "You can't put limits on yourself. I definitely never thought I'd be in this position when I first got here. Don't put limits on yourself.
"You can achieve far more than you think."
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