Ever since he made the decision to transfer to Florida from Southern California in August 2007, Emmanuel Moody has been labeled the potential “every-down back” that Urban Meyer and his staff have searched for since their arrival.
Almost three years after he transferred, Moody has shown flashes of being that type of player for the Gators, but injuries have kept him in and out of the lineup for the better part of two seasons. Now, heading into his final year in Gainesville, Moody had a consistent spring despite ankle injuries continuing to be an issue for the talented Texan.
“Every day that I don’t get better, I get down on myself,” Moody said of his approach to practice this spring. “I don’t get frustrated anymore with injuries, period. I don’t care about what people say. I feel like my ankle is going to be 100 percent and great for the season.”
While Moody has once again shown flashes of the brilliance that made him a prep All-American, ankle injuries have slowed any progress that Moody seemed to be making on a daily basis under running backs coach Stan Drayton. Recruited to Florida by Drayton, Moody admits that he is glad to be working under the coach he originally thought would tutor him during his stay in Gainesville.
“We’re happy to have coach Drayton back here,” Moody said. “He’s a big reason I came to the Florida in the first place. He’s helping me with techniques on blocking, just seeing holes open. Just getting the running back position better.”
Even despite missing practice time this spring, Moody is happy to see guys like Mike Gillislee and Chris Rainey (who is also splitting time at wide receiver) fill in and play at a high level as well. Moody insists there is no jealousy when he is out and sees another player succeed as well.
“We all love each other,” he explained. “It’s like a family in that running back (meeting) room. We all get excited when we see each other make big plays. We just try to keep it a friendly competition.”
But maybe the biggest thing to be excited about, especially for Moody, is to see so many talented (albeit young) players step up around him this spring. Although there is some inexperience behind center, this offense certainly has all of the pieces in place for a big season, at least from Moody’s perspective.
“I feel like we have a great set of running backs, a great quarterback in John Brantley and a good offensive line,” he said.
And maybe most impressive for Moody is to see that big offensive line up front pave the way for what could be an extremely productive backfield this fall.
“That’s our strength right now,” he said of the offensive line. “As a running back, we’re really happy to have an offensive line like that.”
Although there have been injuries that have kept some of the seniors limited to this spring up front (Marcus Gilbert, Carl Johnson and Mike Pouncey have all been limited for parts of the duration of the spring), Moody sees a young group that is hungry and ready to step in the place of those upperclassmen if need be.
“The guys who are behind them, we’re happy to see them step up,” he noted. “Guys like Jon Halapio, David Young, and some of the others.”
For Moody, now it’s all about getting healthy and contributing as much as he can in his final season as a Gator. He hopes a more positive outlook on football will bring some balance to an up-and-down career at Florida.
“It’s just a trial, a time that’s supposed to bring you down,” he said. “But I know it’s only going to make me stronger.”