BYU DB Malik Moore Believes Cougars’ Defense Is Overlooked
Jul 14, 2022, 4:37 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – BYU defensive back Malik Moore feels like the Cougars’ defense is being overlooked as they approach the 2022 college football season.
With all eyes on BYU quarterback Jaren Hall and all the offensive weapons around him, it’s hard to blame Malik Moore for thinking the defense is being overlooked.
Moore sat down with KSL Sports anchor Sam Farnsworth and talked about the defense for BYU and how he will look to build off of a strong 2021 campaign.
“I don’t think the defense gets enough talk but I really feel like we have some ballers on this team,” Moore said. “From everybody at linebacker, the defensive line is working and stepping up. The DB’s are getting better. We have all been here. We are all experienced. We all have that chemistry built upon each other, too. Nothing is going to change. It’s the same team, same starters. We just have to go out there and ball out now. It’s a matter of using what we know and building upon it. I think we have a chance to be great, for sure.”
Moore is a senior from San Diego, California. His first season with BYU was in 2018 when he played in 13 games, recording three tackles and an interception. During the 2019 season, Moore appeared in 12 games, racking up 14 tackles. As a junior in 2020, Moore only played in five games, finishing with six tackles, one interception and a pass breakup. This past season, Moore had his best year in a BYU uniform, posting 31 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups in 13 games played.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has said that it’s hard to ignore the move to the Big 12 in 2023 but he is putting all of his focus on their last season as an independent. Moore agreed with the approach that Sitake is taking.
“Wherever our feet are at, that is where we are at,” Moore said. “With Kalani, he emphasizes that a lot. Especially with all of these big (NIL) deals coming up. He will tell us ‘I will tell you all what is going on, be happy and cheer but we still have practice.'”
Moore and the Cougars will open the 2022 season on the road against USF on Saturday, September 3. All BYU football games can be heard on KSL Newsradio.
