Note: The following appears in the Miami (Fla.) football digital gameday guide, available HERE.
Spider-Man is more than a superhero to T.J. Moore. It is a reminder.
A reminder that there is more to life than football…that athletes are people before they are players…that it is normal to have interests outside the game, even when football demands so much of their time.
Moore carries that reminder with him every day, with the Spider-Man logo tattooed on his shoulder.
“Everybody wants to be so serious in life, but they don’t know that we’re humans too,” said #1. “We enjoy other things besides football.”
That perspective might seem surprising for an elite player who has spent much of his life around the game. But Moore’s path to Clemson has always been about more than football.
Growing up in Key West, Fla., Moore played nearly every sport he could. Football, basketball, lacrosse, track and swimming were all part of his childhood. His father, who also played football, helped plant the seed that eventually grew into his son’s football career.
He started playing when he was six years old.
Football did not immediately consume him. Moore continued competing in other sports well into high school, running the 100m and 200m and competing in the high jump.
It was not until after his junior year of track that Moore decided to put the other sports aside.
“Once I got to high school, I started to pick up size and speed and all the attributes you need to be an elite athlete. That’s when I started taking football more seriously.”
Moore’s journey eventually took him from Key West to Tampa.
When he was 11, his mother received a job opportunity that led the family to move. Moore eventually attended Tampa Catholic High School, where his football career continued to take shape.
By the time he reached the recruiting process, Moore had established himself as one of the nation's premier young receivers. Clemson ultimately became the place he wanted to call home, but the decision was about more than football.
It was Dabo Swinney.
“I came here because I love Coach Swinney,” stated Moore. “He’s the best.”
What stood out to Moore was Swinney’s emphasis on developing the person behind the player.
“He was more about the players. Obviously, he loves football, but his main priority recruiting-wise was developing me as a person and helping me build my relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Once Moore arrived at Clemson, development happened quickly.
He was thrust into the action as a freshman, forcing him to adjust to college football almost immediately. The biggest difference was the speed.
“The first thing I noticed was the change of speed. College football is way faster.”
The playbook presented another challenge. In high school, Moore could often be told which route to run. At Clemson, he had to learn signals, terminology and lengthy play calls while processing everything at full speed.
Eventually, the game began to slow down.
Moore points to Clemson’s game against Virginia Tech as a turning point during his freshman season. After scoring a touchdown, he realized the coaching staff trusted him enough to give him more opportunities.
That changed the way he viewed himself.
“That’s when I knew it was time to lock in and learn to not think of myself as a backup, but more of a contributor.”
Moore finished his freshman season with 45 receptions for 651 yards and five touchdowns. He followed that with an even more productive sophomore campaign in 2025, starting all 13 games and recording 52 catches for 837 yards and four touchdowns.
Through his first two seasons, Moore accumulated 97 receptions for 1,488 yards, establishing himself as one of Clemson’s most reliable offensive weapons.
One of his favorite memories came at Texas.
Clemson’s trip to Austin gave Moore his first experience playing in the CFP Playoff, and he made the most of it. Against the Longhorns’ stout defense, Moore had nine receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
“The atmosphere was crazy.”
Moore’s development has also been shaped by the teammates around him, particularly fellow receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. The two bring different skill sets to the field, but Moore believes that is what makes them effective together.
“He has more speed than me,” admitted Moore. “He is very fast, very quick and very twitchy. I bring in the smoothness.”
Moore has also benefited from going against talented defensive backs every day in practice. He and cornerback Ashton Hampton were roommates when they first arrived at Clemson and spent time watching film together.
The relationship has continued to help both players improve.
For Moore, competition is part of the fun. He admitted he is somewhere between letting his game do the talking and engaging in some trash talk of his own.
“If he talks trash, I’m going to talk trash back.”
But he understands that talk only goes so far.
“I can talk trash one play and get strapped up.”
Away from football, Moore’s Clemson experience has included moments that have tested him and his family.
When a hurricane destroyed his parents’ home, Moore was away at Clemson while his family dealt with the aftermath. The house had been a place his family hoped to remain for years, making the loss especially difficult.
Then the Clemson community stepped in.
Fans supported Moore and his family through a GoFundMe and continued to show their support whenever his parents attended games.
Moore has not forgotten.
“The support means a lot.”
He sees that support every time his parents travel to Death Valley. Fans greet them with smiles, hugs and handshakes, making his family feel like part of the Clemson community.
For Moore, that support is something he hopes to repay.
As he continues another season, his individual goals are straightforward.
“My goals are to play my best game and help my team win…help my team get back to the top.”
His time at Clemson has taught him about adversity, relationships, faith, competition and responsibility.
“It’s been a ride. It’s had its ups and downs, but that’s life.”
Those experiences have changed him.
“I have learned a lot since I’ve been at Clemson. I’ve gotten more wise in a sense.”
That may ultimately be what Moore’s Clemson journey is about…not simply becoming a better wide receiver, but becoming a better person.
The kid from Key West who once played everything is now one of Clemson’s established offensive weapons. But the Spider-Man tattoo on his shoulder remains a reminder that there is still a person behind the statistics, touchdowns and expectations.
For Moore, there is always going to be more.