4-star Nic Moore finds energy on Rocky Top
Jefferson County offensive lineman Nic Moore was on campus for the first time since he picked up an offer from Tennessee. He found plenty of energy at the 865-Live event.
“It was a really energetic experience,” Moore said. “The scavenger hunt, the talent show and coming back down (to Neyland Stadium) for the little party, it was a whole bunch of energy.
“The community was involved. Everybody from the adults to the little kids were involved, and that’s something that I like because it gives us a sense of togetherness. And so I really liked that part of it.”
The more he talks to the staff, the more likes what he hears from Glen Elarbee and others.
“I’m finding out that they’re genuine people,” Moore said. “Before, we didn’t have as much of a connection, and you can tell they’ve gotten interested in me now. We’ve grown as people.
“I know a little bit about Coach Heupel, a little bit about Coach Elarbee. They know a little bit about me, and I feel like our connection’s grown a lot more. And I’m really appreciative of the people that they are and the program that they run.”
And the genuine nature was on full display with some recent interaction.
“Tennessee has said things to my mom to encourage her through her sickness, because she just came down with pneumonia,” Moore said. “They’ve texted her. They’ve called her. They’ve had genuine conversations with my parents. They’ve talked to my sister and my adopted brother, so I feel like they’ve done a good job of not only reaching out to me, but everybody around my family.”
He will take visits to Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Tennessee next month. He will also visit Clemson in early June. He doesn’t have his official visit locked in with Tennessee but will be here the third or fourth weekend in June.
“I think that I still like the energy,” Moore said. “I mean, maybe energy you can’t see. But the energy around Tennessee is certainly here, and it’s very uplifting. And even if it’s higher, man, it’s something to behold. Everybody in Tennessee, around this campus, is upbeat, happy, smiling people, so I feel like the energy is something that you don’t see at a whole lot of places.”
And whoever he chooses will be getting a worker who is athletic.
“I feel like I would bring athleticism and speed, and I would always give my best,” Moore said. “As I go through the preseason workouts, I’ve been working on my speed as more of a helpful thing for me, as more of my utility, because I’m a shorter offensive lineman, obviously, so I’ve got to have an advantage over the people who are 6-5, 6-6.
“And one of those things I prioritize would be my speed and my footwork. And my footwork, technique and speed, I feel like, with that combination of the three, you can take down any 6-7, 6-8 giant.”
