Moses Talabert
Center / University of Charleston
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Moses Talabert: Height: 6’1, weight: 278 and 40 Time: 4.99.
Alex Khvatov: How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Moses Talabert: Well, gyms in Miami have been open as of recently for about two weeks now. I’ve definitely been back in the gym taking advantage of it. But at first when they weren’t open due to Covid-19, I went out & bought resistance bands, along with wrist & ankle weights to get the job done. Every morning, I would go on my porch & kill my workout for the day. The focus most of the time was on my legs, back & chest.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Moses Talabert: Besides football, I played basketball & did track & field in high school. My 9th & 10th grade year, I played basketball & my position was power forward (I was a bit slimmer back then). My 11th & 12th grade year is when I began playing football, as well as taking part in track & field. I started playing football in the 11th grade of high school.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play coming out of a high school in Miami?
Moses Talabert: At first, during my 11th grade year when I began, I played middle linebacker. Later that spring, I started to put on weight, so I was moved to defensive line where I played DE all spring. At the conclusion of spring, I began to put on even more weight, so I finally settled into my true position at center on the offensive line. It was the best move for me because everything came naturally for me playing center.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Moses Talabert: Coming out of high school, I was very lightly recruited to say the least. Only two D-II programs were interested Florida Tech University & Arkansas Tech. I had quite a good amount of NAIA interest, as well some that stood out were Lindenwood University & Southeastern University. Being lightly recruited didn’t stop me though, if anything it motivated me. I knew anywhere I went I was going to ball.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at the University of Charleston?
Moses Talabert: After being at Lindenwood University for one & a half years, I had three years of eligibility left and I was looking to transfer from Lindenwood University. I had a feeling like I can play at the next level at a very high level. In the end, I decided it was time for me to move on from the institution. The University of Charleston first took interest in me on Twitter via coach Paul Johnson (my current offensive line coach). He saw my film & loved it! He offered me right after that. That was all I needed!
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall career?
Moses Talabert: I would describe my overall career as being very successful up to this point, but it’s nowhere near being enough. I plan on winning a National Championship with the University of Charleston this year & plan on becoming an All-American. Until that happens, I will continue to not being satisfied.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from University of Charleston this upcoming season?
Moses Talabert: You can expect us to pick up exactly where we left off last season on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. You can expect our RB Tyreik McAllister & our WR Mike Strachan to surpass their 1,000-yard seasons & double it! You can also expect our nose guard Kenny Randall to keep wreaking havoc in the backfield.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Moses Talabert: On the field IQ, along with my use of speed and technique at the line of scrimmage. My hands & feet are extremely quick & coordinated! With some of my defenders outweighing me, speed & technique have been the key to dominating big guys on the interior. Being able to get my two feet down before the nose guard over the top of me even gets his first step down has been the root cause of my domination at the line of scrimmage.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Moses Talabert: One area of my game that I would like to get better in is picking up run twists. Many people say that it’s close to impossible to pick up a defense’s twist while running the ball because everything is moving very fast. Well, I want to change that and normalize picking up run twist for me & my offensive line. I love a challenge!
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Moses Talabert: The highlight of my career would have to be beating Valparaiso University. A Division-I team at their stadium on their homecoming. We went out there & handled our business. Most of my key highlight blocks & pancakes came from that game. A D-II team is never supposed to go & beat a D-I team. For us to go out there & upset that program was huge! I will remember that forever especially because my old OL coach was a Valparaiso alum.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Moses Talabert: Our coaching staff at UC harps on the importance of hard work & the importance of managing our time wisely as well. They hold each and every one of us accountable to these standards daily. Accountability.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Moses Talabert: People might look at me weird for this one, but my favorite player in the NFL is not an O-lineman, it’s a D-lineman. It’s Aaron Donald. The reason he’s is favorite is because not only is he one of the smallest linemen in the league, but he’s the one that wreaks the most havoc in the backfield. I study the moves he uses to beat the big O-linemen & practice against those exact moves, so when or if I ever encounter them I have the ability to stop them & complete my block.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Moses Talabert: #1 WR Mike Strachan, #4 RB Tyreik McAllister, #76 OG Elbert Munn, #91 LS George Marfo, #53 OT Isaiah Anderson, and lastly #9 NT/DT Kenny Randall. The University of Charleston has a lot of talent. We’ll show it this upcoming season.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Moses Talabert: The best interior D-lineman I’ve faced on an opposing team would have to be Shaun Williams at NDC in Ohio. I believe he graduated this year.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Moses Talabert: You have to be mean & nasty! As an offensive lineman, after great hands, feet, & technique, comes attitude. You have to have a dog eat dog mentality in the trenches or you will be eaten alive. This is especially crucial for 3rd & 1 or 4th & 1 situations. In some crucial game situations, it’s going to come down to who wants it more.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Moses Talabert: I honestly enjoy dominating a D-lineman bigger than me. It turns me up knowing that I’m dominating a guy who is technically supposed to be dominating me. Other than that, I enjoy football overall because of having to grind & go to war with my brothers, while working towards a common goal which is to win football games.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Moses Talabert: Hooping! I still love to play basketball till this day, so every chance I get to hoop in my free time.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Moses Talabert: After football, I would love to give back to my community any way I can. I have a pending CJ degree that will help me make a difference directly in my community!
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Moses Talabert: Smart, quick, relentless, strong, & fearless.
