FAIRMONT — Jarique Moore has had a busy offseason.
The Fairmont senior wide receiver caught the attention of several college coaches and scouts at combines after his standout junior season that included him racking up 1,621 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
“I knew that one day I would get something like that (scholarship offers), but not everything all at one time,” Moore said. “I’m just staying humble and waiting my time for everything else to come in and fall in the right place. I’m just going to stay patient right now.”
With visits to several colleges this summer, Moore received scholarship offers from Old Dominion University, Charleston Southern University and UNC Charlotte. On top of the college visits with the Fairmont coaching staff, he also attended the USA Football national combine with several teammates and the Blue Grey super regional combine at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins training center in Richmond, Va.
At the two combines Moore picked up high accolades by being named the top wide receiver at the USA Football combine and the offensive MVP at the Blue Grey, catching the attention of some former NFL players that were there working the combine.
“Of all the kids out there, the coaches picked me as the best receiver there and they taught me a lot at the camp,” Moore said of the USA Football combine.
Coming back to workouts and practices this summer after the trips and visits, Moore has increased his drive and his understanding of the game.
“It hypes me up a lot and it makes my IQ higher and I know how to maneuver through more zones and man-to-man pressures and how to run my routes crisps. I feel like I’m better,” Moore said. “It makes me want to work even harder because I like the success so I want to see how far I can go. I keep pushing myself harder every day.”
Now going into his senior season, Fairmont coach Mark Heil said there is at least one more recognition the athletic wide out should garner.
“Jarique Moore, if he doesn’t make the Shrine Bowl then something is wrong,” he said. “That kid is a Shrine Bowl player. His attitude, his practice ethics, his effort has come up so much in the last year. I call him a freak.
“He’s an amazing athlete and he’s getting the mental part of it right.”
While everything is still setting in for Moore, he is humble in preparing for this his final season on the gridiron.
“It was a reality check. I know I got a gift from God that I’ve just got to keep on playing,” he said.”I thank God everyday for giving me this gift so I can make things happen.”
