ESPN released their 2015 ACC Defensive All-Breakout Team, and NC State Linebacker Airius Moore was on the team.
Here is what they had to say about Moore:
Moore’s playing time was limited last season, but when he got on the field, he made an impact, racking up 29 tackles in a four-game stretch from mid-October to mid-November. Now, he’ll move from middle linebacker to play alongside fellow rising star Jerod Fernandez. (ESPN)
Last season as a true freshman, Moore played very well in a backup role to starting Middle Linebacker Jerod Fernandez. Moore even started 4 games last year. During the Spring the NC State coaching staff decided that Moore was too good to play as a reserve, and moved him into the opening at the Weakside Linebacker position, that was created by Rodman Noel graduating. The Middle Linebacker position is the quarterback of the defense, and now NC State will have two players on the field at the same time that have experience making defensive calls.
Moore had 37 tackles and 1 sack last season. He was a 3-star recruit out of Ohio that was a blue shirt, which means that he technically wasn’t recruited (no official visit and no in-home visits), arrived on the first day of camp, and technically was counted in this years recruiting class. The fact that Moore played as a true freshman after showing up on the first day of camp says something about his talent and work ethic.
ACC Players on 2015 ACC Defensive All-Breakout Team
DE — Chad Thomas, Miami
DT — Andrew Brown, Virginia
DT — Quaven Ferguson, Duke
DE — Jacob Pugh, Florida State
LB — Devonte Fields, Louisville
LB — Airius Moore, NC State
LB — Marquel Lee, Wake Forest
S — T.J. Green, Clemson
S — Chuck Clark, Virginia Tech
CB — Brad Watson, Wake Forest
CB — Kamrin Moore, Boston College
