4-star WR Elijah Moore commits to Florida State: 'They made sure I was a fit for them'

Heading into his final official visit with Florida State last month, four-star Olney (Md.) Good Counsel wide receiver Elijah Moore was leaning elsewhere — specifically Ohio State. In the past, he has referred to the Buckeyes as his dream school, and the opportunity to play for Brian Hartline and Ryan Day was weighing heavily on him.

When he got to Tallahassee though, he and his family felt something different: home. Despite being hundreds of miles away from the D.C. area, it was as if he was just down the street. And after considering both schools, he committed to the Seminoles on Tuesday.

“They really showed me what they had going on as far as facilities and football-wise,” he told On3. “And they really focused on making me feel like I belong there and Coach Norvell let me know that I’m a perfect fit for them. Not just them being a fit for me with me making this decision on the whole college process. But they really made sure I was a fit for them.”

On the official visit, Moore felt a great vibe from the fellow recruits, as well as coaches, staffers and current players. He previously mentioned his affinity for cooking, so Norvell and Co. treated them to a cook-off competition.

They spent time in the coaches’ offices and even got a chance to ride around in Norvell’s Rolls-Royce. It was ‘high-class treatment’ but the real difference-maker was the way he and his family felt in that environment.

“My family feels comfortable leaving me there, and that’s pretty far from home,” he said. “But they were comfortable like it was a school down the street. They have a drive to make me a better man, husband, father. They see my potential and they know where I want to be, and they’re going to make sure I get there. Really they want me to be successful in everything.”

Mike Norvell has Moore excited about the future

While the Buckeyes have been Moore’s ‘dream school,’ no program has been involved with him longer than Florida State has. He received an offer from the ‘Noles before he even started high school, and they have remained in pursuit of him ever since. Coming out of the Ohio State visit, he was ready to be a Buckeye, but the trip to Tallahassee reaffirmed what he knew about the Seminoles.

“I definitely went into the visit leaning to Ohio State, but I was open arms to Florida State because that was an important offer for me, and they’ve been with me all four years,” he said. “I was pretty strong to the Buckeyes, but I knew they were going to have something planned for me at FSU.”

A big part of the weekend was the time he spent with Norvell, who he says is unlike any other head coach who recruited him.

“You could ask anybody in the facility that knows Coach Norvell, he’s just like a spark plug,” Moore said. “If you ask everyone, they’ll give you the same response. He always has energy, he’s always approachable, and he’s caring, loving and serious. He brings that in the room at all times. I just love his personality, and it matches mine.

… Head coaches got a lot on them, and they have a lot of stress to deal with. But the way he carries himself, I can’t complain about. That’s a top head coach right there.”

Florida State’s care for him ultimately won out

Moore was sitting in Norvell’s office at the end of the visit, much like he had with Ryan Day at Ohio State. He nearly committed on the spot in Columbus, but held off.

After the weekend he’d had in Tallahassee, he knew it was time to take the move.

“When I was in Coach Norvell’s office, I remember biting my nails a little bit because I was in the same position in Coach Day’s office,” he said. “Ohio State has always been my dream school, and I wanted to do what I wanted to do at Ohio State. Them recognizing my talent and recruiting me, it’s a blessed opportunity.

… But Florida State is one of those schools that has been with me all four years of high school. My coach went there, and he’s a Hall of Famer there. FSU has more of a long-term relationship and has shown more care and support than any other school that has recruited me.”