CINCINNATI -- Covering wide receivers wasn't what Rod Moore thought he'd be doing when he signed to play football for the University of Cincinnati. In two seasons at East Mississippi Community College Moore had rushed for 2,205 yards and 18 touchdowns. When he got to UC before last season he was in an open competition to replace George Winn as the main running back under then-first year head coach Tommy Tuberville.
Moore didn't win the job, and when injuries on the defensive side of the ball continued to deplete the secondary he was switched to cornerback.
"I wanted to do anything to help the team," said Moore.
Moore returned to running back this season, although his name wasn't on the two-man depth chart when the opener against Toledo came around. Or the following week against Miami (Ohio).
Injuries have opened opportunity for Moore for a second straight season, and he's taken full advantage as he's become UC's leading rusher heading into Saturday's game in Philadelphia against Temple.
The Bearcats (7-3, 5-1) can forge no less than a tie for the American Athletic Conference title with wins against Temple and then next Saturday against Houston in the regular season finale at Paul Brown Stadium. Memphis (8-3, 6-1) closes out its season Saturday at home against UConn, while Central Florida (7-3, 5-1) completes the trio of teams at the top of the standings with one loss. UCF plays at South Florida Friday night and closes its season at East Carolina next Thursday.
The Bearcats are on a five-game winning streak. The emergence of the running game led by Moore, freshman Mike Boone and a healthy offensive line after top running backs Hosey Williams and Tion Green went down for the season with injuries has been a major factor in the win streak. Throwing the ball hasn't been an issue for UC this season but the offense now has balance in its attack.
"Your running game helps your passing game and your passing game helps your running game," said Tuberville. "The problem was, we were struggling at the beginning of the year to get 100 yards a game and we now we've rushed for 240 yards a game and, if we do that we'll win a lot of games. I think that's the whole key to the offense because you got to be able to run the football."
Moore has rushed for 502 yards and five touchdowns on 107 carries since taking over the starter's role when Williams left the Memphis game on Oct. 4 with a knee injury. Boone has added 454 yards and five touchdowns on 60 carries in a complementary role but with Moore's overall knowledge of offensive coordinator/running backs coach Eddie Gran's scheme, especially pass protection of quarterbacks Gunner Kiel and Munchie Legaux, the senior has been the first one getting the call.
"I think Mike has made Rod pick his game up," said Tuberville. "Rod has actually played better, played faster, he breaks more tackles and we're more of a threat in the running game on the second level with these running backs then what we were with Hosey and Tion."
Williams, Green and Ralph David Abernathy IV were UC's leading rushers last season. Moore carried the ball just four times for 13 yards last season, all against Purdue in the season opener, before moving to cornerback. He led UC in kickoff returns with a 22.3-yard average.
"I've played both sides of the ball most of my life so really it was just about getting a handle on the speed of the receivers and the technique of a different level," said Moore. "During practices coaches got me into the right spots, so they did everything. Plus, I was starting kickoff return so that added another boost of me having the ball in my hand while I was playing defense."
Moore has thrived in his move back to offense.
The Bastrop, La., native rushed for 331 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries in the last three games, including a career-best 124 yards at Tulane on Halloween night. Moore had 99 yards against East Carolina and 108 yards in last week's win at Connecticut.
UC has rushed for at least 150 yards in each game during its current five-game win streak, including four games of more than 240 yards. Moore isn't the sole reason for the improved running game, but he's certainly played his role. Which is all he's done since he arrived on campus.
"I just go with the flow and compete and whatever the coach needs me to do I'll do," said Moore.
