There was a time when Austin Moore didn’t like his nickname.
Back when he was an unheralded walk-on linebacker for Kansas State one of his coaches referred to him as “The Machine,” because he went through practices without saying a single word or expressing a hint of emotion. He got the job done on defense, sure, but he did so in the most boring way possible.
“I took it as an insult,” Moore said. “He was saying I was like a robot, being really shy and not showing enough emotion when I was on the football field.”
In time, things changed ... for both him and his nickname.
Moore has gone from an overlooked recruit out of Louisburg to a key playmaker in the middle of Chris Klieman’s defense. He has started 27 consecutive games for the Wildcats. He has made 172 tackles, forced two fumbles and grabbed an interception. Now, when people call him “The Machine” the phrase has a different ring to it.
“At some point it changed into working hard and playing fundamentally sound football,” Moore said. “I like it now.”
That story is a perfect illustration for just how much life and football have changed for Moore during the course of his K-State football career.
When he was coming out of high school he was so lightly recruited that he got excited when Emporia State and Washburn reached out and asked him to take visits to their campuses. Had he not accepted a walk-on spot at K-State he says he likely would have enrolled at a junior college in 2019 and tried to work his way up to the Division I level from there.
Fast forward five years and he is now representing the Wildcats at Big 12 Media Days at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He wore a suit and tie to the event and reflected on his college football journey as he looked out at the massive venue that recently hosted a Super Bowl.
He has come a long way from his humble beginnings.
“It’s really cool and it feels like it has gone by so quick,” Moore said. “When I think back to showing up at K-State I really had no idea what I was getting into. I just took it one year at a time. I felt like I had goals each year. First, I wanted to make it on special teams. Then I wanted to be a backup linebacker. After that, I wanted to be a starter. I want even more now.”
His teammates are confident that Moore can achieve just about anything he sets his mind to. After all, he did change the perception around his nickname.
K-State players were euphoric when he decided to return for an extra season. They can’t think of a more reliable defender.
“There’s a reason why everyone calls him ‘The Machine,’” defensive back Marques Sigle said. “He is a great leader and he does everything right. You can lean on him for anything. He is everything you wish in a linebacker, and more.”
“He is just a hard-working kid who isn’t afraid of anything,” defensive end Brendan Mott added. “He will speak up and hold everyone accountable, whether you are his friend or his enemy. No one puts in more time. He is someone you can count on.”
If things go well for Moore this season, he could end up on the All-Big 12 team and put himself on the NFL Draft radar. No matter what, he has already joined a long list of walk-on success stories at K-State.
He has become so popular that some have approached him about selling shirts with his nickname printed on them.
Moore doesn’t know if he’s ready for that. “The Machine” has never embraced anything that flashy. But he has transformed into a new player as he has matured at K-State.
“I am proud of where I am because I had to take a leap of faith,” Moore said. “I had plenty of people telling me that they didn’t think I could play at this level. There were plenty of Division II schools that didn’t want me. So this is special. But I know I haven’t reached my full potential. There is a lot more than I can do.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0