The Michigan Wolverines football squad has hit a serious snag, with safety Rod Moore suffering a season-ending ACL tear during practice, a major blow to what was considered one of the top defenses in college football. ClickOnDetroit broke the news that the senior, who was a key part in leading Michigan to last year's national championship, went down with the injury in a practice session Sunday.

The injury not only sidelines Moore for what would have been his final crusade in college but also puts his anticipated leap to the pro ranks in serious jeopardy, Moore decided to stick with the Wolverines for another year instead of joining the NFL Draft which considering the circumstance feels like a gamble that's gone south, reports emerged from multiple outlets including Sports Illustrated that highlighted Moore's celebrated tenure, including a game-winning pick against archrival Ohio State.

Given the typical recovery time for ACL injuries of nine to 12 months, Moore's presence on the field this upcoming season is now an aspiration rather than an expectation, sorely felt by a team already coping with the deficit left by junior safety Keon Sabb's transfer to Alabama, MaizenBrew also points out Michigan's increasingly thin safety room which could prompt the program to hunt for fresh talent when the transfer portal reopens come mid-April.

Filling Moore's considerable cleats are Quinten Johnson and Makari Paige both talented players in their own right; however, with a defensive unit that has previously boasted about the status of being college football's elite secondary, the road ahead without Moore, who's got 24 starts under his belt across two solid seasons and All-Big Ten recognition—is a daunting one, and almost certainly the team's depth at the safety position will be tested as the Wolverines look to duplicate last year's successes without one of their most reliable guardians of the gridiron.