Zack Moss’ Favorite Memory At Utah Centers Around Famous 2016 Recruiting Class

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah running back Zack Moss said that his favorite memory in college was returning for his senior season.

Moss told Jim Rome on CBS Sports Network that returning for his senior year rather than going to the NFL after his junior season was a memory that stood out to him from his legendary football career.

“Honestly, I think it was this past season,” Moss told Rome. “Coming back to Utah after my junior year, opting to come back and play with the 2016 recruiting class that I came in with. Then making it back to the Pac-12 Championship game where we fell short but it wasn’t about the destination, it was about everything that we did. We rattled off 9 straight wins after losing to USC. Just seeing the team come together and continuing to do so many good things on and off the field especially with our academics and things like that. Those are the memories besides the personal accolades that I will remember that we did as a team.”

Zack Moss (@PresMoss2) said that his favorite memory from his time @Utah_Football was returning for his senior year with the 2016 recruiting class.#GoUtes

🎥: @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/Sc1zq2wRex

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 13, 2020

NFL Draft Process

The 2020 NFL Draft class is having to go through something that no one else has had to go through in NFL history and that is to get ready to get drafted during a pandemic.

Despite the world going through an unprecedented time with COVID-19, Moss is still able to workout and get ready for his name to be called on draft day.

“Everything has been crazy and hectic as it is everywhere around the world,” Moss said. “I have been able to continue to train in California and just continuing to get after it.”

The 2019 #Pac12FB Offensive Player of the Year elevated his game each season with @Utah_Football. 📈

With his physicality and speed the best they've ever been, @PresMoss2 is ready to take on the @NFL. pic.twitter.com/ybBB9Vbt1l

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 11, 2020

Due to the coronavirus, teams and prospects are not allowed to travel and meet. So, Moss and other prospects are meeting with NFL teams virtually by using FaceTime and other technology.

“The conversations have been good, just doing them over FaceTime,” mentioned Moss. “Trying to schedule with teams. We have been able to talk about football. Them continuing to learn who I am, what type of player they are going to get and what makes me who I am. I want teams to know that they are going to get a guy that will always come to work and approach it every single day no matter what year it is. This is my life and this is the passion that drives me everyday. I want to continue to give football everything that I have.”

Doing The Little Things

One of the many amazing traits in Moss’ game is his intelligence on the field and his ability to read plays and make smart decisions when running the football. Moss believes that can make up for not being as athletically gifted.

“I think it is something that separates players,” Moss stated. “You can have guys that can run 4.3’s that are athletic freaks but I think the most important part of the game of football is the mental part. It’s about being smarter than your opponent and putting yourself in position to make up for it if you aren’t as athletically gifted. I think that’s what makes the great players great.”

🙏🏾 @jtoosonlaw @NFL pic.twitter.com/hxO1W8CIZP

— ❌ (@PresMoss2) April 10, 2020

Another trait that isn’t talked about much with Moss is his ability to block in pass protection and keep the quarterback from getting sacked. That makes him qualified as an every down running back.

“It’s definitely very important to me to let teams know where I stand in the pass-blocking game,” said Moss. “That’s part of the game that guys don’t understand coming out of college and into the NFL that the quarterback is the most important person on the field. Keeping that guy upright is pretty much second to none in my job as the running back is keeping him up and keeping him clean. That is something that I have had to learn and continue to get better at and is something that I still continue to work my technique everyday.”

The NFL Draft will take place from April 23-25.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.