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Michigan Football: R.J. Moten poised for breakout season in 2022

By Chris Peterson

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive back R.J. Moten (6) after a catch during the second quarter of their NCAA College football at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021.Osu21um Kwr 32
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive back R.J. Moten (6) after a catch during the second quarter of their NCAA College football at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021.Osu21um Kwr 32 /
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It’s easy to overlook Michigan football safety R.J. Moten because of who the Wolverines lost in the secondary but this dude is legit. 

As we get closer to the 2022 Michigan football season, it’s worth looking at some of the names that you are going to need to know this season and one of those is R.J. Moten.

Of course, Michigan football fans should already know Moten pretty well. He started five games last season, made 34 tackles, and even had an interception against Michigan State.

Moten had pass breakups against Michigan State and Ohio State, and the 6-foot, 223-pounder is ready for a much more productive season.

A former four-star recruit out of New Jersey, Moten is forgotten about in part because Michigan was blessed with Daxton Hill last season and also Brad Hawkins, who wasn’t a superstar but sure was solid as all hell on the backend of the defense.

Freshman (in 2021) Rod Moore also turned some heads, plus the Wolverines have some really talented freshmen this year such as Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb just itching to get on the field.

R.J. Moten is better than people realize

But Moten isn’t going to make that easy. The junior is actually ranked by Pro Football Focus as the No. 6 safety prospect for the 2023 NFL draft and there’s a reason he’ll be patrolling the deep middle for the Wolverines this season. PFF also said this via the Wolverine, “the fluidity he plays with at that size is really a sight to behold.”

Replacing a first-round pick at a position is never easy but Daxton Hill wasn’t really a true safety anyway and Mike Sainristil seems more inclined to play that role of nickel this season.

Moten and Moore will be expanding what they did last season and R.J. is one that doesn’t that believes the defense won’t suffer any dropoff from last season. Here’s what he said earlier this offseason via the Wolverine:

"“We’re all stars. Every person that will play this year is a star. I don’t care what the critics say — I don’t care what anybody else says. We will be the best defense in the nation.”"

Moten is like many others on this Michigan football team, ready to take the next step. Most of those guys talked about are on offense and while there are a bunch of names mentioned on defense too, Moten is often forgotten or overlooked.

Next. Game-by-game predictions for Michigan. dark

But after he puts together a breakout season in 2022, he won’t be overlooked anymore, and paired up with Moore, the Wolverines’ safety combination should give fans plenty of confidence.

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