D.J. Moore has been a starter since he stepped foot on campus three years ago, and he was one of the most critical components of Vanderbilt winning a bowl game for the first time in 53 years last season. For his versatility and star power while with the Black and Gold, he's our Vanderbilt men's Athlete of the Year.
As the Commodores were going for their sixth win against Kentucky, Moore had a huge game catching two touchdowns and picking off two passes, the second one to seal the game and make the team bowl eligible for the first time since 1982. Moore was named the Walter Camp player of the week, as well as being one of the most versatile players in the Southeastern Conference last year as he was the only player in the conference to play four different positions: quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner.
Moore's versatility was on display against Miami (Ohio) and Rice as he had a 91- and 67-yard punt return respectively; both returns led to touchdowns. Moore finished the season with five interceptions and 59 tackles and was named a SEC first team All-American. In this coming weekend's NFL draft, Moore should be drafted in the first or second round, and throughout his career, he has helped to bring exposure to the football program as Vanderbilt was on national television five times last season.
Moore will be missed next year in the secondary, but sophomore Casey Hayward has shown great promise this spring and played very well in the Music City Bowl when Moore got hurt. Jamie Graham's move to the secondary should also help ease the loss of Moore as the Commodores defense looks to improve on its top-30 performance last season.
Wherever Moore goes in the NFL, the team will be getting a star; that much is for sure.
Honorable mentions:
Jermaine Beal, basketball
Dependable point guard started all 31 games, drastically improved his 3-point shooting from last year to this year, among best in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio
Rob Whiting, cross country
Star on and off the race course, paced cross country team at Pre-Nationals race with personal best time in 8K, also President of VSS, a non-profit organization that assists local high school students attend college, one of only 58 athletes in the country to receive a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship
Curt Casali, baseball
Leads baseball team with 6 home runs and 37 RBIs on the season, third on team in batting at a scorching .350 clip
