Austin Moore encouraging Wildcats’ defense to dominate in opener

MANHATTAN, Kan. — After leading the Wildcats in tackles in 2022, and tying for first on the team in stops last season, the senior linebacker is urging the defense to make a statement Saturday.

Although Kansas State is hosting UT Martin out of the FCS, Austin Moore refuses to overlook the inferior opponent. The Wildcats finished 57th nationally in total defense last season, and Moore knows this year’s group is capable of improving those numbers.

Which is why he wants the defense to start off the 2024 campaign with a bang. The game will also be played under the lights at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. He believes there’s something special about this unit that Joe Klanderman will be fielding, and the sky’s the limit on what Kansas State can accomplish in the trenches.

“I’m so excited with our pass-rushing abilities, especially the defensive ends, it’s so much talent there,” Moore said. “Those guys are fast, athletic, strong too, and they’re going to be super effective in the run game as well.”

Moore is one of six team captains, who considers himself an enforcer, and he’s also the man in the middle that sets the tone every game. The Kansas native enjoys eating ball-carriers for breakfast on the gridiron too. After all, Moore has led the Wildcats in tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons, with 22.5 during that span.

Moore’s experience, production and leadership makes him the quarterback of Klanderman’s defense. The six-foot-one, 220-pounder also guided the younger defenders throughout fall camp. Not to mention they’re all eager to put on a show in front of the home crowd, so Moore has to constantly tell them to relax.

“Just take it one day at a time, it’s not Saturday yet, but it’s going to come here eventually,” he said. “So you have to focus on the day-to-day, win it one day at a time, and Saturday will take care of itself.”

Kansas State has an All-Big 12 caliber player at every level of its’ defense, and Moore expects everyone to flex their muscles against the Skyhawks. It’s going to be a great measuring stick to see where the defense is at ahead of a road trip to Tulane. Moore is enjoying the intensity in practice leading up to kickoff, and the way guys are flying around.

Everybody wants to continue to get better, so there’s no complacency. As for the veterans on the roster, they’re hungry, and have the same goals as Moore, which is to win a championship.

“Most of us are older guys, and we’ve been through it for quite a few years, and for some of us it’s like our last ride too,” the 24-year old said. “I was talking to Taylor Portier about that last night, just how fast it has all gone by, that we’re going to take full advantage of it, and not take anything for granted.”

Moore can’t wait to storm onto the field, and represent his purple pride in front of the fans. In his mind, Saturday can’t get here fast enough.