By: Hunter Dortenzo – Media Relations Student Assistant

Student-athletes in college are no strangers to hard work. They devote countless hours on the field working on their craft and focus just as many hours studying to achieve good grades.

D.J. Moore is certainly no exception. Known for his work ethic and drive for perfection, Moore at times stands out among the 100+ players he shares a locker room with.

Moore's work ethic was developed at a young age. Growing up, his close relationship with his mother meant he was always up to the task whenever she needed something.

“Being young, helping my mom around, I always wanted to do everything the absolute best I could,” Moore said. “She's my queen. She's my backbone. I love her – everything I do is for her.”

Doing everything the absolute best he could didn't apply only to helping his mother. It carries over into his life as a football player as well. Moore describes himself simply as a “hard worker,” but knows that everything he does is a team effort, and needs to be perfected accordingly.

“Anything for the team, any aspect on the field, I'll do it,” Moore said. “I'll do anything to help us win.”

Moore's 'no job beneath him' attitude and readiness to help the team however he is needed is quite apparent. No matter where he is on the field, from a position on special teams to a play from Offensive Coordinator Walt Bell's bag of tricks, whether it be a practice or game day, Moore gives his all.

Rick Court, Maryland's Assistant AD for Sports Performance, admires Moore's hard work and determination, not only in the weight room, but in everything he does. Court has coached college standouts such as Dak Prescott at Mississippi State and Braxton Miller at Ohio State, but believes Moore deserves a spot among the ranks of great players he's coached throughout his tenure as a strength and conditioning coach.

“Matched by work ethic and the relentless way he wants to get better, he's right up there at the top of the list of the best guys I've coached,” Court said. “His attitude and work ethic are so contagious, his whole entity of what it takes to be great, a great performer at practice and on Saturdays, he takes care of all that business. He's always one of the best ones when we lift weights, always one of the hardest workers, always wants to put on more weight and always wants to run harder. He's right up there at the top. In terms of intangibles, he has all of them.”

Though Moore is aware of the praise he receives from his coaches and teammates alike, he remains humble. When thinking of an example where his hard work showed off, Moore's mind didn't shoot to the SportsCenter Top 10-worthy toe tap touchdown reception at Indiana or his 92-yard catch and run against Nebraska. Instead, he remembered a practice where he felt he was making the players around him better.

Let that sink in.

D.J. Moore, who has as many or more touchdown receptions through two seasons than Terp greats Stefon Diggs and Torrey Smith, thinks not of his impressive displays of talent on game days (from which there is plenty to choose from), but instead recalled a random practice where he noticed fellow wide receiver Jahrvis Davenport perform better simply because of his own contagious work ethic.

Court also noted that Moore's attitude and work ethic drive everyone around him to be better.

“Whether guys are in his group in the weight room or in agilities or a team run, D.J. sets the tone at the top,” Court explained. “He's one of those guys that everyone wants to compete with because they know he'll be out in front giving his best.”

Preparing now for his junior season, Moore looks to retain his 'anything for the team' attitude.

“Right now, I'm just working on the little things in my game,” Moore said. “Not just the big-play mentality all the time, making small plays for the team and making a difference on the field. If I'm not doing that, I'm not helping the other 10 players that get the job done on our side of the ball.”

That mentality, Court says, is what makes him so successful.

“He's unbelievably coachable, he wants to do everything perfect, wants to do everything as hard and as heavy as possible so that he can get better,” Court said. “Any chance he has to perform, he has that mentality.”

Though Moore's coaches, teammates and opponents have changed, it is certain that his work ethic will remain the same and his performance on the field will reflect that.

-Terps-