Q & A with Kestahn Moore
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:44 am
Kestahn Moore has quietly put together a solid career at running back for the Florida Gators. Entering his senior season, Moore is in the best shape of his career and ready to have a statement kind of season. Wednesday, Moore talked with Gator Contry about his expectations for the 2008 season.
JEFF SQUIRES: How is the running back corps shaping up?
KESTAHN MOORE: Real good. We’re going at it really hard. Everybody is looking like their getting in the game-book and making sure they’re looking at their plays, so it’s good.
JS: What’s the chemistry like between the backs?
KM: Everybody has a lot of chemistry. During the off-season, everybody got together and more into a group. Emmanuel [Moody] is real into the Lord, so we had a couple of worship meetings at his house. The running backs would come over there and do little chapel services.
JS: Being a senior, what expectations do you have for yourself as a leader for the group?
KM: I always have high expectations for myself. I want to be a good leader, and at least the best I can be. Whatever I can do.
JS: What is your impression of some of these freshman?
KM: I think [Jeff] Demps is good. He’s a tough-nosed guy. Even though he’s smaller, he brings it. He’s not scared to go into the hole like most of the smaller guys that usually like to hit outside. He fits in real good with us. He can run, and he’s real quick.
JS: What kind of work-outs did you participate in over the off-season to improve your game?
KM: I did some more running to get my speed up. I did some hip drills, working out with Louis Murphy a lot. We did some receiver drills outside with [Tim] Tebow. We did some extra stuff after other workouts, like catching to work on my hands to get those better. I did some running plays, blocking, drills to improve balance…we did a lot of stuff.
JS: You guys practiced in some formation sets with two half backs and gave different looks. What else can we expect this season?
KM: You can expect everything. Two running backs; one running back; two running backs with one running back being a full back but you don’t recognize it because you’ve never seen that before. Everybody’s been blocking [for that role]. You might see a lot of things. Maybe some running backs catching the ball more often.
JS: Have you gotten to see any of the Jeff Demps vs. Chris Rainey foot races?
KM: I haven’t been able to catch any of the races, but I hear about it in the locker room.
JS: What have you heard about them?
KM: I heard Rainey won, then I heard Demps won, so I think it’s a tie right now. It’s even.
JS: Are they scheduled to race again?
KM: I think so. I don’t know when, but they said they’re supposed to. The season is coming, so they’re gonna have to chill out on that right now.
JS: What does Chris Rainey bring to the team and the huddle?
KM: He’s down for whatever, actually. Whatever it is he can do, he’ll do it. That’s what he brings to the table. Then he has speed on top of that, and he’s faster than most guys, so even if he messes up he’ll probably have a step on somebody.
JS: Will he let the defenders know it when he beats them?
KM: Yeah, he talks a lot of noise. Saying, “I got you, man! I got you!” He’s a jokester. He jokes a lot but I don’t think he talks too much.
JEFF SQUIRES: How is the running back corps shaping up?
KESTAHN MOORE: Real good. We’re going at it really hard. Everybody is looking like their getting in the game-book and making sure they’re looking at their plays, so it’s good.
JS: What’s the chemistry like between the backs?
KM: Everybody has a lot of chemistry. During the off-season, everybody got together and more into a group. Emmanuel [Moody] is real into the Lord, so we had a couple of worship meetings at his house. The running backs would come over there and do little chapel services.
JS: Being a senior, what expectations do you have for yourself as a leader for the group?
KM: I always have high expectations for myself. I want to be a good leader, and at least the best I can be. Whatever I can do.
JS: What is your impression of some of these freshman?
KM: I think [Jeff] Demps is good. He’s a tough-nosed guy. Even though he’s smaller, he brings it. He’s not scared to go into the hole like most of the smaller guys that usually like to hit outside. He fits in real good with us. He can run, and he’s real quick.
JS: What kind of work-outs did you participate in over the off-season to improve your game?
KM: I did some more running to get my speed up. I did some hip drills, working out with Louis Murphy a lot. We did some receiver drills outside with [Tim] Tebow. We did some extra stuff after other workouts, like catching to work on my hands to get those better. I did some running plays, blocking, drills to improve balance…we did a lot of stuff.
JS: You guys practiced in some formation sets with two half backs and gave different looks. What else can we expect this season?
KM: You can expect everything. Two running backs; one running back; two running backs with one running back being a full back but you don’t recognize it because you’ve never seen that before. Everybody’s been blocking [for that role]. You might see a lot of things. Maybe some running backs catching the ball more often.
JS: Have you gotten to see any of the Jeff Demps vs. Chris Rainey foot races?
KM: I haven’t been able to catch any of the races, but I hear about it in the locker room.
JS: What have you heard about them?
KM: I heard Rainey won, then I heard Demps won, so I think it’s a tie right now. It’s even.
JS: Are they scheduled to race again?
KM: I think so. I don’t know when, but they said they’re supposed to. The season is coming, so they’re gonna have to chill out on that right now.
JS: What does Chris Rainey bring to the team and the huddle?
KM: He’s down for whatever, actually. Whatever it is he can do, he’ll do it. That’s what he brings to the table. Then he has speed on top of that, and he’s faster than most guys, so even if he messes up he’ll probably have a step on somebody.
JS: Will he let the defenders know it when he beats them?
KM: Yeah, he talks a lot of noise. Saying, “I got you, man! I got you!” He’s a jokester. He jokes a lot but I don’t think he talks too much.