MU’s J’Mon Moore catches first career touchdown after eschewing surgery

Only 3 minutes and 32 seconds into the season, Missouri sophomore J’Mon Moore hauled in his first career touchdown reception for the opening score last week against Southeast Missouri State.

It’s a moment that almost didn’t happen after Moore suffered a separated left shoulder Aug. 17 during practice.

Surgery was an option Moore discussed with the Tigers’ medical staff, but the procedure would have shut him down for a few months and possibly the entire season.

“A couple of weeks ago, I had to make a decision,” Moore said. “A couple of days, I wasn’t too sure if I was going to play; then I started getting in rehab and I was able to move my arm much better. I did a lot of rehab in those two weeks, and the next thing you know I was here. I was ready for the first game.”

Moore is still playing with pain, but he wasn’t thinking about that as he grabbed a 27-yard lob from junior quarterback Maty Mauk and fell backward into the end zone.

“It was a great feeling,” Moore said, dropping his head and smiling as he remembered the moment. “I can’t even talk about it. I’m just so happy. I’m blessed. But it was a good feeling. I just reacted to the ball, and I was happy I got my hands on it and made a good play.”

Moore is one of three Missouri wide receivers who returned this season with playing experience and, as a veteran and leader for that position group, he didn’t want to abandon his teammates by having surgery.

“With the whole situation that we have this year and the way that I’ve been working, I couldn’t not give it a try, just throw in the towel and have the surgery,” Moore said.

Questions and doubts dogged the Tigers’ receivers throughout spring practice, but Moore and company turned a corner during fall camp.

He led Missouri with three catches for 74 yards in a 34-3 against the Redhawks, but the receivers thrived as a group — hauling in seven passes of 20 yards or more and combining for 12 receptions, 202 yards and two scores.

“It just uplifts our spirits,” Moore said. “We hear a lot of things, a lot of people saying that we’re young and a lot of people questioning what we can do. Us making connections with Maty on the field in a game just uplifts our spirit and gives us more confidence to make more plays.”

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 10:25 AM with the headline "MU’s J’Mon Moore catches first career touchdown after eschewing surgery."