Texas A&M vs. Auburn: Damontre Moore emerging as one of nation's top defenders

Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore has been something of an enigma during his career with the Aggies, but this season has turned into a force to be reckoned with, writes David Harris of AggieSports.com.

Moore admitted he slacked off his first couple of years playing at linebacker behind eventual Butkus Award winner Von Miller, but a conversation with new Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin made him realize how short his career is and lit a fire under him to perform more consistently. Now, he's not only one of the top defenders in the SEC, but one of the nation's premier pass-rushers. He leads the country with 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.

This a season after playing mostly linebacker and providing a few glimpses of greatness among inconsistent play. Sumlin said defensive end is a more natural fit for Moore:

"He's always been a pass rusher and has had the talent to do that," Sumlin said. "What you see now is his development into a complete player, playing sideline-to-sideline, chasing down ball carriers on the other side, maintaining his gap integrity instead of doing his own thing and making plays down the field."

Moore and the Aggies' next opponent is Auburn. The Aggies are on the road to face the Tigers Saturday at 6 p.m. CT in a game televised by ESPN.