IW QA with Tony Moss

IW: How did you go about making your decision?

Moss: A lot of it went towards academics. They have a great business program, and as far as academics, it seemed like they were on top of everything. That’s how I made about 60 percent of my decision. The football team had its ups and downs this year, but I know in the past how good of a program it was, how it produced quality players and I wanted to be a part of that. That made my decision a lot easier, because I knew the kind of quality program Wisconsin had.

IW: Your teammate, Darnell Ray, told me he was surprised that you committed to Wisconsin on your first official visit, and you didn’t take other visits first. Was your decision made on a whim, or had you planned on committing that weekend all along?

Moss: My mother always told me to go with my heart, my first instinct. I knew a lot of schools I was considering, I wouldn’t be comfortable there. After I toured the Wisconsin environment, the campus and everything, I just knew that was the place for me. It was kind of a first instinct type of thing. I wanted to pick the best school that would fit me, and Wisconsin was the school.

IW: Did you cancel the rest of your visits?

Moss: Yeah, I canceled my other scheduled visits because I knew where I wanted to go. There’s no use in wasting their money and their time when I know I’m not going there.

IW: Where were you planning on visiting?

Moss: Illinois, Memphis, Minnesota and Northern Iowa. That was pretty much it right there. I had narrowed it down to those schools, then I made my decision.

IW: Do you know what you want to study in college?

Moss: Business administration and financial investments.

IW: How much of a role did the success of Jamar Fletcher and Scott Starks play in your noticing and choosing Wisconsin?

Moss: It played a pretty big role because I saw how they came in, the players they were in high school versus the players they are now. They were great athletes in high school, but they are tremendous after they went to Wisconsin. I just feel like there is something they have to offer me. There is something they know that I want to be a part of, to improve my game, improve my success athletically, as well as academically. I want to be a part of that. Academics played a big part.

IW: Scott Starks was your official host on your visit. Were you guys pretty good friends before?

Moss: Yeah, we were. He treated me like a friend (on my visit). He just kind of talked to me, showed me the ropes, showed me the ins and outs of Wisconsin, and how it was. He basically told me the truth about everything, and that’s one thing I wanted to hear. He told me how it would be at practices and games and everything, how the coaches were. As far as pressure, he never pressured me, he never said commit or they will take your scholarship. He was just himself.

IW: What have the coaches told you about your role in the program and when they expect you to be on the field?

Moss: They expect me to be on the field as a true freshman. A lot of coaches expect me to come in and play a tremendous role in the success of Wisconsin. I believe that, and I believe that with hard work and dedication, it will happen. I just think that right now, they are ready to get me suited up, bigger and stronger so I can play next year as a true freshman, and not have to be redshirted.

IW: Were you recruited exclusively as a running back, or have you played any other positions?

Moss: Exclusively running back.

IW: Are there certain things you will have to prove to the coaches, or improve on to play running back as a true freshman?

Moss: I know with my ability and their coaches, I can start as a true freshman. I won’t have to redshirt my first year. As far as the depth chart, I know wherever you go, there is going to be a depth chart, and that just should make you work harder. For me, the kind of work ethic I have, when I see things like that, it makes me want to work two times harder to accomplish my goals. I think that’s going to help me enhance my performance, more than anything. The depth chart is working towards my favor.

IW: What type of running back would you describe yourself as?

Moss: All I can say is I have pretty good vision and a lot of heart. I’m not afraid to run the holes, I’m not afraid to have a collision. In my eyes, I like collisions. I like people challenging me to hit them, and I challenge them back. It makes both of us better, and just seeing holes and seeing things other people can’t see. Also my speed.

IW: What’s your best 40-time?

Moss: I ran a 4.47, in rain on a wet track. That right there, I would kind of say it’s way lower than a 4.47. Before I go to summer camp, I’m going to try to get down to about a 4.3, and then let them work with me, and help work my way down to a 4.2, somewhere in that area.

IW: Do you have a role model or somebody you really look up to in college or pro football?

Moss: I have two. Deshaun Foster, I try to base my running game off him, because he’s powerful. He’s tall and lean. He’s not compact. He’s a versatile runner and I like that. And also I looked up to Walter Payton because he was a tremendous athlete and his work ethic was incredible. I look at that, and I want to have a work ethic like that, to work hard for what I want. He’s a great example for a player and I admire him.