Third-year linebacker Moses Meus managed something that the University of Rhode Island football team hasn’t seen in over a decade when he collected 19 tackles on Sept. 27, building on his breakout season.

On a night the Rams suffered a 47-14 loss to Western Michigan University, Meus recorded his career high in tackles. It was the first time since Andrew Bose ’15 matched the mark of 19 tackles on Oct. 25, 2014.

“[Meus] had impact plays last year, but not as a full-time starter,” Rhode Island Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “Now he’s stepped into the starting role, and he’s getting better and better with reps. I’m really looking forward to seeing how he continues to advance through his career.”

Meus is the team’s leading tackler through the first six games of the season. He spent high school at nearby St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, finishing a prolific career with a State Championship victory and Rhode Island’s 2022 Gatorade Football Player of the Year honor.

“He’s a physical presence inside,” Fleming said. “He’s a typical story of a kid that comes out of high school, a great Rhode Island player who could have gone elsewhere but wanted to stay home.”

Across his senior season with the Saints, Meus registered 103 tackles with two interceptions and three forced fumbles. On offense, he also rushed for 606 yards and scored nine total touchdowns.

“Effort beats talent; I was always taught that,” Meus said. “In high school, I had a lot of effort and just made a lot of effort plays. So when I came here, my mentality was just to give my all and give my best effort.”

When it came to committing, Meus’ top three schools consisted of Rhode Island, the United States Military Academy West Point and a preferred walk-on spot with Wake Forest University.

“I chose Rhode Island because it was home to me,” Meus said. “Rhode Island always showed love. I fell in love with the scheme of the defense and the way [URI Defensive Coordinator Chris] Lorenti went about things.”

Staying in-state allowed Meus to adjust to the college level behind a linebacker unit headlined by 2023 All-Coastal Athletic Association Football Second Team selection ’23 Evan Stewart.

“My freshman year was really just getting to know people and surrounding myself around the right people,” Meus said. “Being behind those linebackers and just learning the game, it just helped out a whole lot.”

Following his freshman year, where he appeared in two games, Meus appeared in all 14 games during his second season on special teams and as a reserve on defense. He spent this past summer preparing to make the jump as a full-time starter.

“That summer work was just flat-out grinding, running, conditioning [and] working the scheme,” Meus said. “Just getting together and becoming a team was really big this summer.”

His 19-tackle night added another highlight performance to his season after earning CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors in URI’s win over the College of the Holy Cross on Sept. 13.

“That was honestly the best feeling ever,” Meus said. “I definitely wanted to go into that game and just do my best for my teammates, just like every other game.”

Against the Crusaders, Meus finished with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and a third-down sack.

“I feel the energy from my teammates; my teammates pick me up every single day,” Meus said. “It just makes me want to work harder every single day.”

Last year saw Meus recover a fumble in a 31-21 win against Brown University; this year, he picked up six tackles in Friday’s Governor’s Cup.

Rhode Island aims to end a two-game losing streak as the Rams return home on Saturday to face the University of New Hampshire at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FloSports and available on the radio on WRIU 90.3 FM and The Varsity Network.

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