Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Colorado WR DeAndre Moore Jr.
Plenty of college football players have used NIL money to buy cars, jewelry or whatever else suddenly becomes affordable when you are 21 and getting paid to catch touchdowns. Colorado receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. went in a slightly different direction: he bought a turkey food truck and is now trying to build a fleet of Teslas that can make him money while he sleeps.
Moore used his NIL earnings to purchase the truck for a family business called Jive Turkey, while his twin sister Denae is helping launch the Tesla rental operation. Moore told the Associated Press that he would rather put his money into something capable of generating a return than burn it on “jewelry, clothes and all that.”
DeAndre Moore Turned NIL Money Into Turkey Tacos
Jive Turkey is not just somebody throwing deli meat onto a tortilla and calling it a startup.
The family’s menu revolves almost entirely around turkey, a concept inspired by its decision years ago to replace most other proteins in its diet. The truck serves turkey burgers, deep-fried tacos, and a cornbread bowl loaded with mashed potatoes, shredded turkey, macaroni and cheese, and gravy.
There is also a three-flavor Kool-Aid served in one cup with the colors separated.
This operation clearly understands its audience.
Denae handles much of the financial side, while Moore’s mother, Taleea, helps develop the food. The truck is currently based in Austin, where Moore spent the previous three seasons playing at Texas, but the family plans to move it to Boulder and eventually hopes to turn Jive Turkey into a permanent restaurant.
That is already a pretty ambitious side project for someone whose primary job involves Big 12 defensive backs trying to separate him from consciousness.
Then there are the Teslas.
His Next Business Is Basically A Tiny Rental Car Company
The Tesla plan originated with Denae and is still in its early stages, but the idea is straightforward: acquire vehicles and rent them out instead of purchasing expensive cars solely for personal use.
In other words, Moore wants the cars producing income rather than depreciation and Instagram pictures.
“My family instilled in me, ‘You’re making all this money. We’re going to do something with it,’” he said.
That mindset is especially interesting in the modern NIL era, where college athletes can suddenly encounter substantial income years before most people have figured out their first real job.
Moore already has another revenue stream through football, of course.
He transferred to Colorado in January after catching 77 passes for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns across three seasons at Texas. He has quickly become one of Julian Lewis’ top weapons and erupted for 107 yards and a 66-yard touchdown in Colorado’s 52-21 win over Weber State, with his Colorado résumé putting him among the most experienced receivers on the roster.
His ultimate goal remains getting paid to play in the NFL, but Moore is apparently planning for the possibility that football money should create more money instead of simply disappearing.