By Stone Freeman
Assistant Athletic Director, Media Relations

KINGSTON, R.I. - Culture has become a cliché in sports, particularly in college athletics. But for Rhode Island linebacker Moses Meus, describing the culture surrounding the Rams is simple.

For Meus, that recipe is equal parts the bond between the coaching staff and locker room and the pursuit of a goal that isn't yet in sight.

"It's infectious," Meus said about Rhode Island's team culture. "It took me some time to embrace the culture here at Rhody, but once I did, everything and everyone felt like family."

The road to embracing the Rams' culture took some time for Meus. The Providence, R.I., native was nervous when he arrived on campus in 2023. The combination of being on a college campus and the pressure of playing against Division I talent initially made Meus uneasy. But committing to a process, forged in embracing his new environment, allowed him to settle in.

"It's a matter of having a better mindset and embracing the culture on how we do things," Meus said. "It is different and I had to learn how to do things different and create a culture for myself. I had to trust that process and through that I became a better player."

His jump from his first year in Kingston to his third justifies Meus' thoughts. As a true freshman in 2023, Meus appeared in two games with one tackle on special teams in the Rams' last game of the season at Towson. Two years later, Meus had started all 14 games for Rhode Island's 2025 CAA Football championship squad. He anchored Rhode Island's defense and led the Rams with 110 tackles.

With that type of growth in a new era of college football, there were opportunities for Meus to transfer out of Rhode Island at the end of last season. But the culture in Kingston, particularly his relationships with the coaching staff and his teammates, made his offseason decisions easier.

"My reason for staying is the coaching, the culture, and my teammates," Meus said. "We have a great coaching staff who really put time into us and love the game of football. They take the time to teach you."

Meus embraces what his coaches have to say. He and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Lorenti have built a special bond over the last four seasons built on just that: taking coaching and trusting that they're out for your best interest.
 

"Coach Lorenti is a great coach. He has no ill intent in anything he does. Even on the tough days," Meus said. "When I first came here, I knew how to play football, but I didn't know football. It took a lot of time, and it was a huge part of my development to really learn the game. Coach Lorenti took me into his hands and has really taught me football."

Another huge part of Meus' experience in Kingston has been his teammates. He credits them with helping him mature over the last four years. But the relationships he's created are deeper than helping each other understand opposing offenses. Instead, they are built on friendship and camaraderie.


"I have great teammates," Meus said. "The locker room is something that is strong. I can sit and talk to anybody in the locker room and have a great conversation with them. I feel like if I am ever having a rough day, I can go talk to anyone about it."

That close-knit locker room the Rams have is a part of what Meus said is the strongest part of the team's culture. His teammates, some who date back to his high school playing days, are a major reason why leaving Rhode Island was never an option.

As a graduate of St. Raphael Academy (St. Ray's) in Pawtucket, R.I., Meus played with both safety Andre DePina-Gray and defensive back Ethan McCann-Carter in high school. Like his time with the Rams, Meus built dependable relationships while at St. Ray's. He is thankful that some of those relationships made the trip from Pawtucket to Kingston.

"I played with Andre and I played with Ethan," Meus said. "They were my closest people on the team [at St. Ray's]. I created a big family at St. Ray's. Ethan is my best friend. We did everything together. It carried over from St. Ray's to here [at Rhode Island]."

Three years after graduating from St. Ray's, the experience comes full circle for Meus and his fellow Fighting Saints teammates. Rhode Island's temporary home stadium, Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, is just over a mile away from the St. Ray's campus. In a state where driving over 20 minutes requires packing an overnight bag, the quick trip for players like Meus who were born in the northern half of the state is a welcome opportunity.

"I think it's going to be a great experience," Meus said. "Not many people have the time to drive to Kingston and then drive back up. I will see a lot more of my St. Ray's family and my immediate family from Providence at Centreville Bank Stadium. My extension of family, people I consider brothers, sisters, and friends will be at our games now because it's much closer."


The final piece to the puzzle that is Rhode Island Football's culture is the process. Meus and the Rams have goals for the 2026 season that cannot be seen after two games in early September. The Rams have a vision that for four decades would be rightfully classified as inconceivable.

"There are steps to the process that right now we are still deep in," Meus said. "We want a three-peat. We want a conference championship. We want a national championship."

Meus and the Rams continue that pursuit Saturday, Sept. 12, at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket. Rhode Island hosts Elon in its home and CAA Football opener. The game is scheduled to start at noon.