Grove City natives Keith and Chad Moore are related by blood, and they also share a similar story on the gridiron for Ohio. Both linebackers started their Bobcats careers as walk-on redshirts during their freshman seasons.
Keith, a redshirt senior who led Ohio with 98 tackles last season, said he and his brother have taken comparable paths in their respective football careers despite never playing on the same team until this season.
“It is kind of funny how that both worked out for us,” said Keith, who returned to the lineup last week against Akron after suffering an ankle injury in Ohio’s season opener.
“We were kind of underdeveloped as a high schooler. … (Getting stronger) was necessary for me and with him. He’s getting bigger also,” Keith said.
Keith has earned his way to a scholarship and a starting position and is now one of Ohio’s team captains. Chad, a freshman who is redshirting this season, said his older brother has been helpful to him in learning his role on the field.
“Over the summer he definitely taught me a lot of what I knew,” Chad said. “I was here by myself during June, so he always helped me out. Like every night we’d go over plays together and stuff like that. He’s my biggest reference.”
Keith even said he wishes he and his brother could hang out more often, though they do find time to grab dinner away from the field every once in a while.
Chad will have an opportunity to break into the lineup next season, said Ohio linebackers coach Ron Collins, who added that he sees a common competitive thread between the brothers.
“We weren’t ready to offer them a scholarship coming out of high school, and so Chad’s in that similar vein (to Keith) — both hard workers and both have a goal,” Collins said. “So it will be interesting to see how Chad progresses.”
Keith plays a dual role as both Chad’s older brother and his captain — something he embraces.
“I try to tell him what not to do and what to do, but really it’s kind of hard being a captain and then I’m also his older brother,” Keith said. “So usually when I tell him something I’m like, ‘No Chad, for real, I’m your captain — don’t do that.’ ”
Keith said that this year’s Homecoming Week hasn’t ushered in any new emotions just because his brother will be on the sidelines with him Saturday against Central Michigan while family and friends look on from the stands.
Chad said Keith’s journey at Ohio has set an example for him and that he strives to carry on the Moore family name in Athens for years to come.
“I’m proud of (Keith),” Chad said. “He’s my biggest inspiration — that’s why I kind of came here. I’d love to follow his footsteps.”
mk277809@ohiou.edu
