Camelia Bowl: Jalin Moore awaited turn to shine for Appalachian State

Jalin Moore was bred for this.

A native of Shelby, he practically grew up with a football in his hands, playing his first youth games as a kindergartner.

“I really wasn’t supposed to be playing back then,” he said with a smile.

Three times during Moore’s high school career, Shelby Crest finished as a state runner-up in the NCHSAA playoffs. In all, the Chargers have won six state titles since 1994.

“I feel like that’s what made me the hungry football player I am, just growing up around that type of football, hard-nosed football, it taught me a lot,” Moore said. “All the coaches down there, the whole Crest nation – they taught me a lot.”

Through that experience, he was also bred for this – his current place in the crowded Appalachian State backfield.

For most of his time at Crest, Moore shared carries with Tre Harbison, a three-star recruit who will begin his career at Virginia next season.

As a senior in 2013, Moore ran for 1,456 yards with 23 touchdowns while Harbison ran for 1,554 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Chargers lost 38-31 to Southern Durham in a thrilling Class 3-AA championship game.

“I’m kind of used to sharing the ball. I haven’t really been the premier back, since I-don’t-know-when. I’m a team player, also, so that’s fine – I’m used to it,” Moore said.

Moore’s star has burned brightest over the past month after a less-than-ideal start to the 2015 season that resulted in just 32 carries over the first nine games of the season.

“In fall camp, I didn’t have the camp I wanted, and coaches know I didn’t do what I was capable of doing,” Moore said. “But they believed in me from the past things I had done in spring ball, and they just told me I need to pick it up and they believed in me.”

Even in mop-up duty, Moore managed 203 yards and a number of highlight runs.

Despite being firmly behind Marcus Cox and Terrence Upshaw on the depth chart, Moore kept the faith he’d get his chance.

“As it went along, I improved my working craft, everything I got lazy on. It was a working process, building every day,” he said. “I got tired of being second and third and just put my foot forward and kept working.”

Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield didn’t lose faith, either.

“We knew it, we saw it as coaches, how much talent he has. He just needed an opportunity,” Satterfield said.

That chance came Nov. 14, when Cox sat out of the Mountaineers’ road game at Idaho nursing a number of nagging injuries. Satterfield planned to split carries between Upshaw and Moore that day – with Upshaw starting – but Moore stole the show in the first quarter.

With 48 yards on the second drive of the game, Moore’s confidence grew. From there, he went on to set an App State freshman record with 244 yards on 27 carries, including a 46-yard run on the first play of the third quarter to help put away the game.

Moore thought his steady work could get him into the rotation by the end of the season, but he didn’t see that kind of performance coming.

“I didn’t know that would be my breakout game,” Moore said. “I thought my chance, I would get in and work my way up game after game. When my opportunity came, that was one of the best games I’ve had. I think that was based on the work I put in to get there. I’m glad I stayed humble and worked to get there.”

Since the explosion in Idaho, Moore has posted performances of 104 yards and 84 yards, and he scored the game-winning touchdown at South Alabama.

He’s now second on the team with 635 yards, despite finding his groove in just the past three games.

Even with his willingness to share, Moore figures to take over as the feature back for the first time in a long time after Cox, a junior, moves on.

“One day, he’ll be the guy, he’ll be the marquee guy that will carry this team, and so I’m excited for him to be able to get that opportunity and for every chance he gets to prove he’s that kind of back,” Satterfield said.

For now, Moore is just excited for the chance to show the nation what he’s got – no matter how many or how few carries – on Saturday against Ohio (8-4) in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The game kicks off at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s a dream come true,” Moore said. “Where I come from, a lot of people don’t get to experience this. I’m glad I’ve got the chance, and I’m going to try to make the best of it.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 11:56 PM with the headline "Camelia Bowl: Jalin Moore awaited turn to shine for Appalachian State."