AMES, Iowa — In a game as violent as football, injuries are an unfortunate reality. Iowa State tight end Tyler Moore knows that better than most.

“I feel like the last three years, it’s probably too many for me to count off the top of my head,” said Moore. “Some of them are just dings and bruises, some of them are long term injuries. It’s a good number, but I’ve got a good group of guys around me to keep rallying, keep playing.”

A former standout player at Johnston, Moore has spent the past five seasons with the Cyclones. While these injuries have made it tough to stay on the field, Moore has kept battling, now finding himself as a consistent contributor in a loaded tight ends room.

“We don’t have a tougher kid on our team than Tyler Moore,” said Offensive Coordinator Taylor Mouser. “Talk about a guy that eats nails, and is the same guy everyday, and will run through a forest blindfolded, whatever kind of toughness saying you want to say about Tyler, he checks all of those boxes. He’ll do whatever it takes for this football team.”

With Gabe Burkle missing the game against Arkansas State, Moore was called into an even bigger role, and he delivered. He caught two passes for a career-best 58 yards, making a major difference in the game.

“Between the whistle and the snap, man, that kid gives you everything he’s got every single day,” said Head Coach Matt Campbell. “To watch him have some moments where that paid off on Saturday, that was really huge. He was incredibly productive, we probably don’t win the football game if he doesn’t play the way he played for us last Saturday.”

While Moore’s time in Ames has been interrupted by injuries, he continues to make the most of it. As someone who grew up in Central Iowa, playing for the Cyclones is not something that Moore takes for granted.

“I watched Iowa State a lot growing up,” said Moore. “Being able to play in front of these fans, and this crowd, at this stadium. There’s nothing better, in my opinion, that I could be doing. It’s been a lot of fun for me, and it’s going to continue to be fun for me until I’m done. I look forward to it every week. Like I said, a lot of injuries, what keeps me going is these fans and the guys in this building. I enjoy it a lot.”