ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Sun Devils DE Travez Moore seeks double-digit sacks to prove doubters wrong

Jul 25, 2022, 5:13 PM | Updated: Jul 29, 2022, 9:03 pm
Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Travez Moore (49) lines up during the college football g...
Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Travez Moore (49) lines up during the college football game between the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Arizona State Sun Devils on September 2, 2021 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

TEMPE — Arizona State Sun Devils defensive end Travez Moore may not be a new face, but he’ll feel like a new addition after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.

After transferring over from LSU following the conclusion of the 2020 campaign, Moore played in three games for ASU in 2021 before going down with an ACL tear against BYU.

In those three contests, the defensive lineman garnered six total tackles (2.5 tackles for loss) and one sack.

“When my injury happened, I did a lot of self-meditation, talking to myself,” Moore said at Sun Devil football media day for returning players on Monday.

“It sounds crazy but that’s what I did. … I went through like a little stage like where I was like depressed for like a good two weeks. Then I just remembered everything (DL coach Robert Rodriguez) — all the advice he gave me. I said, ‘OK, let me lock in, let me get right, let me get ready for next year.'”

That advice was the Latin phrase “Amor fati,” which means to love the fate or the hand one has been dealt in times of great adversity. Moore used the Latin phrase to remind himself to “stay tough.”

He also gave credit to his former head coach at LSU, Ed Orgeron.

Moore added that because it was the first time he had ever been injured, a lot of people around him started doubting whether or not he could return to the high level of athleticism and play that was expected from the defensive end when he transferred to Arizona State.

“I always kept that in the back of my head, so I’m gonna prove y’all wrong,” he said. “When I come back, fall camp — y’all gonna see, ain’t no fall off. I just kept it in the back of my head.

“People around me every day didn’t believe me. It’s alright, I’m gonna show you something. So I went into this offseason to get my mental right, get in the playbook more because I couldn’t run, couldn’t lift weights like I wanted to. So that was my whole approach: get myself right mentally and get in the playbook.”

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end made clear what his personal goal on the field is: double-digit sacks.

And if all the outside noise doubting both his and Arizona State’s ability as a team wasn’t enough, Moore took self-motivation to a whole new and personal level.

“I have people saying a lot of bullcrap about me on Twitter. … So what I did, I literally spent two to three hours and I went through every Twitter post that said something negative about me,” he said. “I wrote it down on my wall.

“And that way before I walk out the door, I see it on my door. Whatever everybody said on Twitter about me, I see what they said. And I’m like, ‘OK, cool. I gotta prove this person wrong, I’m going to prove this person wrong today or I’m gonna do this today to prove this person wrong. So that was my motivation in using that.”

Arizona State Football

Arizona State wide receiver Javen Jacobs during 2023 spring ball in Tempe, Arizona. (Sun Devil Athl...
Jake Anderson

ASU’s pass-catcher competition includes ‘deep wideout and tight end positions’

The Arizona State Sun Devils have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the football when it comes to pass catchers.
3 days ago
Arizona State true freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada gives the "forks up" after a spring ball prac...
Jake Anderson

Arizona State’s QB battle heats up after 1st week of spring ball with Jaden Rashada

There are six on the roster, half of which are returners, while two are transfers and one is freshman five-star dual-threat QB Jaden Rashada.
6 days ago
Arizona State defensive back Chris Edmonds, celebrates his pass interception with linebacker Will S...
Jake Anderson

Communication is key for Arizona State’s new defense early on in spring ball

Communication is key in defense, especially in the modern era of college football where offenses are running quick-tempo, hurry-up offenses.
8 days ago
Arizona State University president Michael Crow interviews with Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona'...
Kevin Zimmerman

ASU, Arizona presidents: Not preparing to leave for Big 12

The presidents of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona went on the record reaffirming their commitment to the Pac-12.
9 days ago
Kenny Dillingham. (Twitter Photo/@ASUFootball)...
Jake Anderson

Kenny Dillingham instills ‘just compete’ philosophy on Day 1 of ASU spring ball

The first day of spring ball for ASU with new head coach Kenny Dillingham had a vastly different vibe than previous regimes.
10 days ago
Quarterback Trenton Bourguet #16 of the Arizona State Sun Devils throws a pass during the second ha...
Kellan Olson

ASU QB Trenton Bourguet far more healthy in 2023 after 2-year foot issues

ASU's spring starter at quarterback will be able to utilize his skill set in a way he hasn't been physically able to since training camp of 2021.
11 days ago
Sun Devils DE Travez Moore seeks double-digit sacks to prove doubters wrong