The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Spring Spotlight: Kyle Mosley is Paying it Forward
4/17/2026 9:47:00 AM | Football
The Atlanta native first arrived on campus during the summer before his junior year of high school, holding his first Division I offer. He left with something more.
Now a redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, Mosley has become one of the program's most consistent presences- not just on the field, but across the Birmingham community.
When he's not battling in the trenches, he's often giving back. In just over two years, Mosley has logged more than 100 hours of community service, mentoring and reading to students at local schools, serving the unhoused, and volunteering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank, Children's Harbor, Food For Our Journey and Black Warrior Riverkeeper.
For Mosley, it's not just about service- it's about connection. "I feel like everybody has something going on internally," Mosley said. "I've always had a heart for people."
That perspective is rooted in his faith- something that shapes how he approaches both service and relationships. And it was shaped long before he arrived at UAB. During his time at Cedar Grove High School, Mosley leaned on mentor Shontica Wallace during one of the most difficult stretches of his life. "She helped me in one of my craziest moments," Mosley said. "I had never been so mentally cluttered. That's when I really learned the importance of mental health."
Now, he's working to be that same presence for others. After football, Mosley hopes to start a nonprofit focused on supporting those dealing with mental health challenges, single-parent households and the unhoused- creating a space where people can be heard and supported.
"I think just having that doorway, where people trust you with what they're going through, that gives you a chance to help them," Mosley said. "Then that just gives you a doorway to give them Jesus,"
That mindset has carried into the locker room as well. With numerous newcomers joining the program, Mosley and his teammates have made it a priority to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed from day one. "We made it mandatory to greet everybody," Mosley said. "You've got guys coming from all over the country- you don't know what they've been through. So just embracing them, that brotherhood, that's what helps us win."
It's something head coach Alex Mortensen has taken notice of. "Kyle Mosley has been a real joy and a blessing to have in our program," Mortensen said. "He's a great teammate who tries to help others on and off the field. He leads by example with his work ethic, he's done a great job in the classroom and in the community, and he's continued to develop as a player. We're really glad he's here."
For Mosley, that growth- as a player, a teammate and a person- all traces back to the same place. The people. "The coaches really care," he said. "It's really the people inside the building."
And looking back on the moment that started it all, Mosley doesn't hesitate when asked what UAB means to him.
"This was the best decision of my life."
