Vanderbilt still abuzz over Moore's dazzling performance

Even by D.J. Moore’s lofty standards, his performance in last Saturday’s game against Rice left observers shaking their heads in amazement.

The Vanderbilt junior cornerback piled up a career-high 206 yards of total offense on just seven touches of the football to help lead the Commodores to a 38-21 win.

He opened the game with a 39-yard kickoff return, then added 17 yards on his first punt return. One play later, he scampered 24 yards on a reverse to help set up Vanderbilt’s first touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, he returned a punt 67 yards to the Rice 1-yard line, then returned an interception 31 yards later in the quarter.

The All-Southeastern Conference performer is the only four way player in the league this year, handling duties as a cornerback, wide receiver, kickoff returner and punt returner.

“It takes a special man to be D.J. Moore,” VU quarterback Chris Nickson said. “He has a great ability to do whatever he wants to do. He does it with ease, it seems like. He has a confidence about him that only the great players have.”

In the Aug. 28 season-opener at Miami (Ohio), Moore intercepted a pass, recorded a quarterback sack, forced a fumble and returned a punt 91 yards in the span of 5:42.

He currently ranks second in the SEC in punt-return average (29.0), fourth in all-purpose yards per game (121.7), tied for third in passes defended per game (1.33) and fourth in interceptions with two.

“It’s amazing what he’s done for this team thus far,” Nickson said. “I can’t wait to see what else he’s going to do.”

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, whose team plays host to Vanderbilt on Saturday, has noticed, too.

“D.J. Moore, boy he’s good,” Nutt said.

KEEPING PERSPECTIVE: While a 3-0 start has Vanderbilt knocking on the door of its first national ranking in 24 years, coach Bobby Johnson said he pays little attention to the national polls.

“Your record speaks for itself, and we don’t need anybody else to tell us how good we are or how we’re doing,” he said. “We know we have a lot of improvement to make from week to week. If we keep getting better every week, everything will take care of itself.”

The Commodores, 3-0 for only the third time since 1984, received 63 votes in this week’s Associated Press poll, the most of any team outside the Top 25.

If Vanderbilt wins at Ole Miss on Saturday, it will likely vault into the national rankings for the first time since being No. 19 after four games in 1984.

“It’s great that we’re up there,” VU safety Ryan Hamilton said. “I hope we end up in the Top 25 after this week. It would be good for us to get some recognition throughout the country for what we’re doing if we can get to 4-0. As long as we keep winning, people will recognize what we’re doing.”

PROPS FOR NICKSON: Nutt, in his first season at Ole Miss, said he’s not surprised by Vanderbilt’s 3-0 start and credits the play of Nickson.

“Chris Nickson is the difference,” Nutt said. “He is a healthy guy that is moving around. He can escape and he can create.”

Nickson has yet to pass for more than 100 yards in a game this season, but he ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing at 89.3 yards per game, the highest total in the league among quarterbacks.

“He can run, which always makes a coordinator very nervous,” Nutt said. “He’s like a 12th man out there. You can cover up everything, and then he can take off running. Those are some of the most well-designed plays that they have.”

NEXT GAME

Vanderbilt (3-0) at Ole Miss (2-1)

6 p.m. Saturday

Oxford, Miss.

TV — none