Nick Saban reacts to Malachi Moore’s action in 4th quarter versus Vanderbilt

No one else knows the deep competitor Malachi Moore is like Nick Saban.

The veteran defensive back for Alabama had a moment against Vanderbilt where his emotions got the better of him.

He has apologized since then and is ready to move for Saturday’s game versus South Carolina. Moore is a two-time team captain and a 2020 College Football Playoff National Champion.

Several players on this team look up to him for leadership, guidance, and how to play relentless football for the Crimson Tide. Saban knows Moore did not respond the right away in Nashville (Tenn.), but he understands Moore’s character.

The seven-time national champion recruited Moore as a four-star in the 2020 signing class.

In an interview with Pat McAfee, Saban said it was ‘totally uncharacteristic’ of Moore to do what he did last week.

“Malachi Moore is a great young man,” Saban said. “He’s gonna be very successful in life. But I think this is an example of when you get frustrated, and you get emotional, you make bad choices and decisions and do things that you normally wouldn’t do from a character standpoint. I think that was obviously what happened. I know he’s very sorry for the way he represented himself, his family, his team, the university and all that. But the thing about it is, you can’t take those things back.”

Moore, a fifth-year senior, looks forward to leading his team — especially on defense — better against South Carolina.

The Crimson Tide takes on the Gamecocks at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.