MOBILE, Ala. – Having to watch a bowl game from the sidelines wasn’t how Alabama football linebacker Jaylen Moody wanted to end his college career.
Missing the period with shoulder injuries was certainly not what he was hoping for when he decided to remove his name from the transfer portal and stay for another year in 2022.
Moody, a fifth-year senior, used his extra year of eligibility made possible by the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver. However, he only played in 10 of the 13 games. He was dealing with ongoing shoulder problems.
Moody said he tore his labrum and damaged his rotator cuff.
“I had the double whammy,” Moody told The Tuscaloosa News at the Senior Bowl. “All the time I thought it was a minor injury, but all the time I deal with both of them. There were times throughout the season when I would score a small hit or someone would tap me on the shoulder and it would just shut me down. I had to get this fixed after the doctors told me so.”
ALABAMA:Alabama Athletics wins $18.5 million in 2022, but a “significant chunk” is in debt
DATE OF SIGNING:Alabama Football, Nick Saban Should Be Quiet On National Signing Day Why the focus is on 2024
Moody said it’s something he’s been dealing with for most of the season, since the summer. He said he was injured mid-season, about the week before Mississippi State.
“Then it just got worse from there,” Moody said.
According to Pro Football Focus’ chart, he did not play in the Iron Bowl or Sugar Bowl, Alabama’s final two games of the season.
He wore street clothes while his teammates practiced and played for the game against Kansas State in late December.
“It cost me dearly,” Moody said. “I wanted to be out there with my brothers. Not being able to play my last game with my boys in my senior year hurt me.”
However, Moody made sure to stay close and involved by providing as much insight as possible to his teammates.
Moody finished his senior season with eight starts in 10 games with 50 tackles, including eight losses and two sacks. He also had a fidgety recovery.
Now he’s pursuing the NFL. He’s not officially attending the Senior Bowl, but he still came to Mobile this week to meet people.
“I’m really just here to be there for the game, to show that I’m still here, I love the team and I support my teammates,” Moody said.
He continues to rehabilitate his shoulder in hopes of attending one of the two Pro Days in Alabama in the spring. Moody said he will take time to rehabilitate his shoulder.
“My shoulder is really good,” Moody said. “I got some updates from my doctor pretty much telling me that in about another month I should be able to go back out and lift weights, do my field exercises and all. Really, mentally, I feel like I could go out here and do a lot more, but I really have to hold myself back. That’s what the doctor tells me. Really, I’m just trying to stop myself from hurting things again.”
Nick Kelly reports on Alabama football and men’s basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: [email protected] Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.