FAMU HARD KNOCKS: Dark Cloud Defense tandem builds everlasting bond on and off the field

In correspondence with the Florida A&M Rattlers' Fall Football Training Camp (Aug. 4-Aug. 26), Tallahassee Democrat reporter Gerald Thomas, III will chronicle the team as it prepares for the 2023 season by providing practice reports, player and coach spotlights, and inside looks at the program as they become available. Thomas presents, 'FAMU HARD KNOCKS.'

Iron Sharpens Iron.

That's the motto that Florida A&M Rattlers teammates Isaiah Major and Jordan Moore are living by as they participate in fall football training camp.

The duo aims to be running mates and man the only two available starting linebacker spots in the Rattlers' primary 4-2-5 Dark Cloud Defense formation.

And that competitive drive has led them to perform well in the first handful of practices.

"They're both exceptional football players," FAMU head coach Willie Simmons said of the pairing. "Those are two 4.5 40-yard dash guys, so it's going to be really hard to run east or west, and even at them.

"I think they're going to be the heart of our defense."

In day one, Major had a pick six during team drills last Friday.

"Isaiah is going to be a two-year starter and an all-conference performer for us. I think he may be next up in line to off the defense that has a chance to play at the next level," Simmons said.

"He's a former high school running back, so he has moves and can catch the football."

The following day, Moore, a converted safety to linebacker, followed up his teammate and had an interception for a return of his own. Then notched another one at Tuesday's practice.

"We moved Jordan from free safety to backer, so he's kind of cheating a little bit," FAMU defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ryan Smith joked. "Those guys fly around and get to the ball. If you're late with it, they're going to be there for it.

"The whole group has been really impressive. We have to find ways to get them on the field.

"And that's a fun problem to have."

FAMU Dark Cloud Defense duo Isaiah Major, Jordan Moore tackle hard past by fulfilling lifetime accomplishments

Major and Moore arrived to FAMU as part of the 2022 transfer class.

Soon, they realized that they had more in common than they thought.

Both are from the Southwest region of the country ― Major, Oklahoma City; Moore, Yoakum, Texas. Major played at Division II Central Oklahoma and JUCO Independence Community College. Moore bounced around in his college career, having stints at NCAA Division I-FBS teams Texas A&M and Houston, but also JUCO Kilgore College.

"It was always a connection there," Major said of his teammate. "From day one, you could see that J-Mo was one of the hardest working cats we had on the field.

"I saw it in him and I had to be around him to pour into someone that I knew would benefit our defense."

Moore recalls meeting Major when they first arrived on campus to begin their new chapter of football last year. Their conversation was about having the same hunger that they did in junior college.

They eventually became roommates.

And as Moore was sidelined all last season from FAMU's certification blunder, Major was instrumental to keeping his teammate level-headed and patient.

"We knew what it took to get out of JUCO," Moore said. "And then, I couldn't play and was 12 hours away from home. I was going through it. But Zay was somebody in my corner that kept me going everyday because it was days I didn't want to be in Florida anymore because I couldn't play.

"For him to be that leader that I needed off the field meant a lot to me," Moore continued. "Even in the days that I would come out and BS in practice, he'll get on me and I respond to him like a man because I know he has my best interest and I have his."

That connection off the field is eternally embedded within Major and Moore.

The two were part of nine players baptized at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, led by Reverend R.B. Holmes ahead of the Rattlers' season opener versus the North Carolina Tar Heels last season.

And almost a calendar year later, Major and Moore became FAMU alumni together last Friday, rewarding themselves with a steak dinner from Texas Roadhouse after the commencement ceremony.

Major graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health, Leisure, and Fitness. Moore got his Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

"It was amazing," Major said of completing milestones alongside Moore. "For someone to understand your pain in that form or fashion, watch you achieve your goals, know your secrets. J-Mo knows that one of my biggest fears is failure. I'm terrified of it.

"So, for us to achieve the goals that we did created an even stronger bond than we had. And even our families are connected because of those things.

"It's a blessing to have someone like that around, not only as a friend, but a teammate."

Both noting that they've been through adverse situations, Major and Moore know that they will have an everlasting connection after completing college and expressing their faith together.

But this is just the beginning for the FAMU linebackers.

"That's my brother," Moore said of Major. "Getting baptized is where it started. To find a brother that believes in Christ and want to take that next step in life like you means a lot. And that's not the last thing we're going to achieve together because it's more on the list.

"We've both been through some things in our life to where we honestly don't know how we're here right now. We know things about each other that our mom's don't even know.

"You grow through what you go through. And that's what we did together. We now know that the sky isn't the limit anymore and we can go beyond that."

FAMU linebacker tandem Isaiah Major, Jordan Moore set standard for upcoming season

Moore, who was a four-star safety out of high school, has been a standout in spring practice and now fall camp.

And his teammate has been a 'major' assist to Moore adapting to his new spot on the field.

"The first time I got moved to linebacker in the spring, I didn't know what I was doing," Moore joked. "[Major] pulled me to the side and told me to slow down and not to rush it. It's still fresh to me because I've been playing safety since I was five.

"I'm nowhere near the best I can be, but I know having someone like him is going to me get there sooner than I expect."

Moore is happy and eager to return to the football field as it will be 659 days since he's played in an actual game by the time the Denny's Orange Blossom Classic versus Jackson State rolls around on Sept. 3.

"A lot of us transferred here because at one point we lost love for the game. I thank the coaches because they brought that excitement within the game back to me," Moore reflected. "I never expected that I'll be here, but I'm loving it more than any place I've ever been. If I could go back and known what was over here, I would've picked here.

"I love being out there. And I love these guys like they're my real brothers and love my coaches like they're my real family. When you love that person you go to war with, you're going to go that extra mile that you never thought you could go."

Major and Moore are utilizing their final year of college football eligibility.

Major, a Preseason All-SWAC First Team selection, says he wants all the glory to be shined on the Orange and Green when the dark clouds clear.

"I want the world, Chico," Major said, tapping into his inner Tony Montana. "I want to go grab everything that's in front of us. We got the team and everybody we need within our organization ― from coaches, trainers, and staff.

"I want to hit the ground running and have a complete season ― leave everybody with a donut hole. Leave it all on the field.

"We just got to go out and get what's ours. Domination. Through and through."

Moore is looking to finish his college career with some Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship and HBCU Celebration Bowl jewelry, which both would be FAMU's first in program history.

"In my eyes, it's championship or bust," he said. "I don't know how to settle anything less than that. We have so much talent, so I don't see why we can't win it."

Florida A&M Athletics Summer 2023 Graduates

Cheerleading

Hope Matthews - BS Biology

Softball

Cris'Deona Beasley - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Natasha Fox - MS Applied Social Sciences

Melkayla Irvis - BS Allied Health - General

Baseball

Jackson Hall - BS Philosophy & Religion

Cameron Kelly - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

John Long - BS Agricultural Sciences

Men's Track & Field

Javante Stephens - BS Graphic Design

Quentin Williams - BS Actuarial Science

Women's Track & Field

Mia Heard - BS Health, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

Women's Basketball

Mide Oriyomi - MS Applied Social Sciences

Men's Basketball

Chase Barrs - BS Business Adminstration

Tarig Eisa - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Jaylan Hewitt - BS Psychology

Wylie Howard - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Football

Deondri Clark - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

LaDreyous Jones - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Isaiah Major - BS Health, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

Jordan Moore - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Morgan Moore - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Khamari Thompson - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Lelan Wilhoite - BS Interdisciplinary Studies

Michael Williams - BS Allied Health - General

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Linebackers Major and Moore, shining in Rattlers' camp