MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football running back Deonta Moore recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss the difference in his schedule now that he is in grad school, the key for a student-athlete to be successful in the classroom and how he got into playing hockey, among other things.

Moore, a senior from Owens Cross Road, Ala., has been a member of the Jaguar program since the 2014. After redshirting his freshman season, Moore has seen time on the field either in the backfield or on special teams in 41 games. This season, Moore has appeared in 10 contests where he has rushed for 178 yards on 54 carries for a 3.3 average. He also has 12 receptions out of the backfield for 53 yards, and has recorded six tackles on special teams.

You have already graduated with your degree in sports and recreation management.  How has it been different for you to balance athletics and classes now that you are in grad school?
"There isn't too much of a difference. At the end of the day, it's just about doing your work. With a lot of my classes being online, it's actually a little better on the workout and practice schedules."

Having already obtained a degree and been through the process, what do you feel is key for a student-athlete to be successful in the class room?
"Time management; that's a big part of it. A lot of kids get caught up in all the newness of it when they get here on campus, and kind of lose focus. The main thing I would tell people is to just make sure you are staying on top of your stuff and prioritizing what you need to do first before you do other things that you may want to do."

What will the game against Coastal Carolina mean to you being a senior?
"Just like any other game, we want to win it. For me, I'm not going to treat it different than any other game. I want to win, play my hardest and leave it all out there."

What are you wanting to do after your football career is concluded?
"Probably get into the sports industry either working for a professional team or a sports merchandise company or a sales rep."

You've seen time on the field in both the back field and on special teams during your career at South. Talk to me about being part of both units.
"It's been a lot of fun. There definitely is a lot more thinking and precision on the offensive side, whereas on the special teams side it's more of thing about how much effort you want to give, and just being explosive and more physical than the other person. The effort level really takes you a long way on special teams."

How have you tried to be a leader not only on the offense, but the team overall?
"I've tried to lead the best way I know how to, which is by example. I try to do everything right and go about everything the right way. Treat everybody in a respectful manner. That's the only way I really know how to lead."

You've been part of the program for four seasons. Where have you seen yourself have the most growth or make the most improvement?
"I feel like I've grown a lot mentally. I've been a part of a lot of different teams, every year the makeup of a team looks different, so that has helped me learn a lot and I've grown from all the experiences I've had here."

What factored into your decision to come to South Alabama?
"I picked South because it was the closest option at the time for my family to be able to see me play. I also like the fact that the program was new. I felt like I could be part of something that you couldn't be part of at a different school with the amount of tradition other schools have. I just wanted to help start something new, and that fact that it was really close to home helped me pick it."

You are from the northern part of the state. How often does your family get to attend games here in Mobile?
"My parents come to every game. A lot of my other family catch two to three games a year, so it's good. Not being out of the state helps with that a lot."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"Video games are a big thing with me. I also watch a lot of YouTube videos."

What other sports did you play either growing up or in high school?  
"I played a lot of sports. I played hockey, ran track, played lacrosse for a little while, played basketball, so pretty much everything. I never really played baseball though."

Hockey isn't a sport someone would think a person who grew up in the south would play a lot. How did you get involved playing hockey?
"I played for a team out of Atlanta for about four years, all the way up to my sophomore year of high school. I started to focus on football more after that. Huntsville is actually the hockey capital of the south. We have a Division I program there and a semi-professional team as well. In Huntsville, hockey probably more popular there than it would be anywhere else in the state. My brother got into it and anything he got into, I pretty much did as well."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"Probably my father, he's done a lot for me and sacrificed a lot for me. When I try to see myself as an older person, I look to what he's done in his life and try to emulate that and incorporate it into my life."

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