Junior T.J. Moore becoming top offensive line prospect
Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek junior T.J. Moore became a road grader last fall at both right guard and tackle for the Mavericks.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Moore has earned scholarships from NC State, North Carolina, South Carolina and East Carolina, and garnered plenty of interest from numerous other colleges. He said that programs project he’ll be a right tackle in college.
Rivals.com ranks Moore the No. 21 overall player in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2017. He unofficially visited NC State for the Clemson game and recently attended the Wolfpack’s Junior Day event Jan. 30. NCSU fullback/tight ends coach and co-special teams coordinator Eddie Faulkner is recruiting Moore.
“NC State has its own little set up and community, and I like it,” said Moore, who is only 16 years old.
Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh is also where Mallard Creek crushed Greensboro (N.C.) Page 49-6 on Dec. 12, 2015 in the NCHSAA 4AA state title game.
“That game was great. We balled out from the first play, and it kept going until there was zero seconds left in the fourth quarter,” Moore said. “Our running game was good, and we had to go against No. 8 [Elijah Diarrassouba of Page], and he was good.
“It was beautiful at Carter-Finley Stadium. When I went to that Clemson game, I knew I wanted to come play on this field one more time.”
NC State has previously landed rising junior tight end Jaylen Samuels and rising redshirt freshman cornerback Vernon Grier from Mallard Creek, and the Pack just signed Moore’s teammate, four-star tight end Thaddeus Moss, in the 2016 class. NCSU is also recruiting junior linemen Eric Douglas and Grant Gibson from the school.
“NC State has been talking to me a lot,” Moore said. “I like NC State, so they could help change some things for me.”
Moore thinks Florida State, Florida and UCLA have reached out. Mallard Creek defensive end Josh Brown signed with FSU this month. Moore plans to go to Tennessee’s Junior Day on his birthday March 5, and he would like to see both Florida and Miami during his spring break. Moore will also try to check out Penn State later in February.
He said that he’ll use this offseason to get stronger and faster. Moore has played basketball in the past and is pondering going out for track and field this spring.
“The older guys say to never give up and be the hardest workers on the team, no matter what,” Moore said. “They say to stand out and be different.”