Catching Up With Former Vols WR Denarius Moore

Former Vol wide receiver Denarius Moore finds himself in a new situation for the 2015 NFL season.

The Texas native is now wearing a different shade of orange. Moore signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after four seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

The fifth round pick averaged 43 receptions, 685 yards, and six touchdowns in his first three seasons in Oakland, and landed a safe spot on all of my fantasy football teams.

However, in his final year with Oakland he struggled with only 12 receptions in 10 games, and Moore offered an explanation over the phone on the surprise season.

“I think it was more so letting people get under my skin, it messed with my confidence, and [also] not really knowing where I stand in the system.”

Under the defensive minded Dennis Allen, the Raiders saw two 4-12 seasons. He was then fired midseason in 2014, which may explain why Moore did not have the certainty he needed last season, and why it was time to leave Oakland. Can you blame a guy for leaving who has played for 5 head coaches since college?

Moore’s career has been one big coaching carousel.

At Tennessee he played under three different head coaches, THREE! Coach Phillip Fulmer, Lane Kiffin, and last but certainly not least, Derek Dooley.

A Fulmer recruit, Moore caught passes in eight games in the 2007 season, but no touchdowns. In 2008, Moore became a deep threat where he averaged nearly 25 yards a catch and finished with 2 touchdowns including one for over 60 yards.

Moore’s potential began to come full swing as he scored 16 touchdowns in his final two seasons. He busted out for a couple of 200 yard games in his senior season, and even added a rushing touchdown to his nine total receiving TD’s.

This led to the fifth round selection in the 2011 draft, but it goes unnoticed how he was able to get better each season through all of the coaching changes.

Even though it had to be confusing times for any Vol player, he still attributes some of the credit to the different staffs.

“The coaches came in wanting the best for me, and then the players never giving up because we had the mindset that we in this together…this is all we got right here. Just came in ready to work”

This is why guys like Denarius Moore deserve tremendous amount of respect from Vol fans. Guys who come in ready to work and make no excuses are true Vols For Life; being a VFL is important to the wide out.

“It means a lot knowing that even though you have left the family that you are always welcome back with open arms. Every time I came back somewhere along the way I seen somebody I went to school with, and it’s just a bond that you can’t forget.”

Passionate Vol fans certainly understand what Moore is talking about. Which leads to the question: How passionate are Vol fans? What separates them from an NFL fan base?

"“The difference between what I seen in Tennessee and NFL teams, is at Tennessee, they are all die hard fans. Like even when a team is going south, they are still sticking by your side.”"

With that being said, Moore is actually seeing some of that passion with his new team, as he explained that fans constantly stand outside the stadium awaiting the players to finish practice.

Let’s get to the decision on joining the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals are led by the red headed assassin Andy Dalton, and former Georgia foe A.J. Green on the offensive side of the ball.

They finished the 2014 season with a 10-5-1 record, and a wild card exit in the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.

Moore is going to a team with the potential to have his first playoff visit and a possible Super Bowl. This is incentive enough to come to the Bengals, but the key that opened the door for Moore to join the Bengals was a former coach.

“Having a bond with Hue Jackson, I feel like he knew what to do. I just wanted to give him another chance and see how it works out. Just trying to start off from scratch from what I know.”

Hugh Jackson is currently the offensive coordinator for the Bengals. He was Moore’s head coach for Oakland in the 2011 season where Moore busted on to the scene.

The connection with Jackson could lead to a big year for the former Vol.

A.J. Green will likely garner most of the attention for opposing teams. With Moore’s speed and deep threat ability, look for him to potentially have some big yardage plays to help out the duo of Green and Dalton.

Here are Moore’s thoughts on what the Bengals can do next season, and even his thoughts on the question.

“[I] think we are going to go all the way, I think we are going to win the conference, but it starts first game. I hate to answer questions like that because I don’t know. Take it day by day and game by game.”

Be on the watch for Denarius Moore in the 2015 NFL season as it starts for him on September 13th against his former team, the Oakland Raiders.