Senior Devin Moore looks the part of a lockdown SEC cornerback when he’s on the football field, but his health has kept him from taking his game to the next level. In three seasons at UF, Moore has played in just 19 of Florida’s 38 games, missing time for various injuries including multiple shoulder surgeries.
Moore is fully healthy to start fall camp after missing the remainder of the 2024 with a shoulder injury suffered during an interception return vs Georgia.
“Working back from it has been a breeze,” Moore said. “Just working with the training staff, guys around me motivated me every day, having fun with them, and finally getting out there yesterday with the guys and having some fun.”
With a lack of experienced depth in Florida’s secondary, it’s imperative that Moore says healthy throughout his senior season. Moore has taken a different approach regarding his body compared to years past, including blood tests with the medical team and working closely with the nutrition staff.
“Just being healthy. I’ve taken a very intensified approach on that. I stay here more than I go home now.So just being up here, any little thing from toes to knees to thighs, elbows, anything you can think of just making sure everything is accounted for,” Moore said.
“I did blood tests with the medical staff, the training staff, and then I’ve also done like nutrition – foods that cause inflammation in my body tests with the nutrition staff,” Moore added. “So a combination of all of those things, also just talking to each staff on a daily basis. ‘This is what I’m kind of feeling today.’ And they’ll just give me a great plan, and all I got to do is execute it.”
The 6’3, 198-pound cornerback says he’s in the best shape of his life entering the 2025 season, and it sure looked like it during Florida’s media availability on Saturday.
“Everything went up as of August,” Moore said on his offseason improvements. “I remember being more explosive, getting stronger, gaining more muscle mass. I’m pretty sure I lost probably around 12 pounds of fat and gained like 15 pounds of muscle.”
Moore has the size, length, speed, and cover skills you look for in an SEC caliber cornerback. Last August, Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III told the media he expects Devin Moore to be a first-round draft selection. While Moore’s not played a full season at UF, his numbers have been impressive.
In 121 coverage snaps last season, Moore allowed six receptions on 13 targets while logging two interceptions and two pass break ups. In 2023, Moore graded as Florida’s best defender in coverage, allowing five receptions for 30 yards on 12 targets. He was also credited with an interception and three pass break ups.
Moore enters the 2025 season as Florida’s top cornerback.
“I’m excited, just being able to go out there and prepare and practice and use that confidence no matter who I go against. That’s definitely excitement to me. And just being a competitor. At the end of the day, I think that’s what it all comes down to – it’s me versus you and we’re gonna duke it out,” Moore said.
While Moore has emphasized staying healthy throughout the 2025 season, he also understands how important his role as a mentor is as the veteran in the room.
“I love football, so no matter if I’m out there playing or not, I’ll always be around it. Do what I can to help this program be a better program and just get back to winning national championships,” Moore said.
Florida has several true freshman cornerbacks including Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers, whom Moore has taken under his wing throughout their first summer as Gators.
“I got Ben Hanks on my right side and J’Vari Flowers on my left. So I’m putting my iPad, my notes out there, ‘Did you get that? Make sure you get that, that’s important.’ Just the little things like that. I was once in their shoes and having guys like Jason Marshall helped me get through that,” Moore said. “Those things went a really long way, so just being able to replicate that.”