Decision Day Prediction: Former LSU 5-star commit Dakorien Moore

LSU kicked off the Fourth of July with a commitment from Texas 4-star defensive tackle Zion Williams, who picked the Tigers over the Longhorns and many other college offers.

With one domino dropping in LSU’s favor, a one-time Tigers commitment is also set to reveal his college choice on July 4th.

5-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore, who originally committed to LSU in August 2023 before backing off his verbal pledge this spring, surprised many when he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett on Wednesday that a decision would be coming within 24 hours.

Now, Moore has circled Thursday as his reveal date with a final group that includes LSU, Texas, Oregon and Ohio State. All four schools landed official visits in the month of June.

Where do things stand? Here’s a look at what Moore said about each school, as well as our pick on which way things are trending as one team surges on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Texas: “It’s always going to be home,” Moore told On3 at the start of summer. “It’s close to family, so that’s one major thing it could come down to when I’m thinking about Texas. Obviously they got great NIL, everybody knows that. But I’m looking forward to seeing something else besides that and seeing what they’ve got to show me. They’ve developed players since they pulled them in, and even players that haven’t been so big out of high school.”

Marjahn Moore, Dakorien’s mother, has given the Longhorns high marks as well.

“Texas is home,” Marjahn has said in the past. “I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. I only bleed two colors. Orange and Blue. Burnt Orange for Texas and blue for the Dallas Cowboys. That’s all I knew growing up. As soon as he started taking college visits I took him to Austin.

“I love everything about Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas. They don’t cut any corner. We saw practice recently, that was really exciting. That showed us Texas is coming to play. They’re ready to play with the big boys in the SEC. I have a great relationship with a lot of people on staff from the head coach to his recruiters. They call to check up on us all the time and make sure we’re good. It’s not recruiting, it’s to make sure the family is good. That’s what we’re looking for in recruiting. I can’t talk about football forever.”

LSU: “Obviously they have a great program,” Moore has said about LSU. “Some of the greats have come from there.”

When Moore was in Baton Rouge, he was the only visitor on campus and enjoyed the experience with his mother and brother.

“Very intimate, family oriented and intentional! It was great connecting with new people and reconnecting with others. It was much needed!

“You can’t deny vibes and there was so much love shown,” Marjahn emphasized. “Baton Rouge locals and LSU staff together came back and checked mama’s boxes.

“Solo official visits are the new wave and more families should do it when you need focus not just on entertainment.”

LSU receiver coach Cortez Hankton has been leading the charge in recruiting Moore to LSU, but everybody from Brian Kelly to Joe Sloan to the off-field staff have been all-hands on deck trying to get Moore back in the fold.

“The electrifying receivers that have come before him and the degree plan LSU has would allow him to graduate with having to return later,” she said.

Oregon: Moore has been to Eugene several times during his process and he feels very comfortable around head coach Dan Lanning, potential position coach Junior Adams and the Ducks program.

“I love how open I can be when I’m out there,” Moore has said. “Their uniforms and their style, they’re just different. It’s unique, and it’s not really comparable to any other school I’m looking at. I just think they have great coaches in general. Coach Lanning knows how to judge people, and he is a good judge of character. And he’s really good at building relationships and getting people to trust him. I feel like that reels the great players in. And with Coach Adams, he’s just a well-rounded good coach, good mentor and a good person to be around.”

“Oregon is just it’s different on so many levels. Their recruitment process is second to none. You will have a relationship with everybody from the head coach to the water boy. That’s how Oregon is and it’s a genuine relationship with everybody.”

Ohio State: Moore made it to Columbus twice in the spring. The first time he saw practice and the second time he returned to make sure his mom saw everything. On the official visit in the summer his great aunt came and she gave the Buckeyes her blessing.

“I love how competitive they are,” Dakorien has said. “That was the first thing I noticed when I stepped foot on campus. I could just feel the energy when I walked through the facility. Then after watching practice, I saw everybody have the same focus. They’re all locked in on football and want to win. They’re a big family, and it’s big city out there. Not too rowdy, it’s kind of calm but there’s stuff to do out there. And they have a huge fan base and a lot of support out there.”

“Ohio State had the best presentation for us,” Marjahn added. “They were the most put together and buttoned up. They gave us every aspect of life. Kori understood what it would be like for him as a student athlete and what it would be as a graduate. I didn’t go on his first visit. He went with his trainer. He came back so excited about the visit telling me everything he learned and everything he saw. The aspect of playing football there, the type of athletes there, that excited him the most. I had to see for myself.

“When I went there the way everything was laid out for us it blew me away. I could see myself leaving my son in a city like this. The brotherhood there. Everybody is so close-knit and so friendly. Those are the things I’m looking for when I go to a campus.”

The On3 RPM Picks

The Texas Longhorns have been talked up as the team to beat even before he shocked the recruiting world by picking LSU nearly a year ago.

Since then, Texas has made Moore a major priority, and with so much family in the Austin area, it gives the 5-star wide receiver an opportunity to stay in his home state and close to family as he plays out his college football career.

Sources tell The Bengal Tiger staff that LSU is not expected to be the pick, and if there’s a darkhorse that comes in late, keep a close eye on the Oregon Ducks. Dan Lanning and Co. have not just recruited well, but also have one of the top NIL programs in college football. If Moore decides to shock the world again, the Ducks would be the ones pulling off the upset this time.

That said, Texas remains the heavy On3 RPM favorite entering Moore’s reveal on July 4th.