Josh Moore to Texas

Josh Moore at UIL State Championship. (Justin Wells/IT)

AUSTIN — When it came down to a final decision, it was actually easy.

At least for Yoakum 4-star WR Joshua Moore, who committed to Texas today. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete chose UT over Florida State, Texas A&M, Oregon, and LSU among his 52 offers.

The multi-sport athlete excels in football, basketball, and in Track & Field, which he’ll try to compete in while he’s on the 40 Acres.

“This has always been a dream of mine,” Josh told IT. – Justin Wells

Heading into this cycle the number at wide receiver was four. If you’ve followed the cycle close you’ll know Texas was in good position to hit that number for most of the calendar, but Rondale Moore’s de-commitment dropped the number to two. Since Moore decided to move on Texas, honed in on Moore as well as Tommy Bush and Lawrence Keys. Due to low roster numbers it was imperative Texas landed another prospect at the position.

Quietly, Texas is a bit thin heading into the 2018 season. Brennan Eagles will surely see the field, but it’s a bit more uncertain when it comes to Al’Vonte Woodard and Moore. Barring a terrible injury bug Texas should be okay next season, but by 2019 likely starters Jerrod Heard and John Burt will have graduated. After a year of S&C and acclimating to the steep jump in competition Moore should be waiting in the wings.

His frame is definitely on the lean side, but wiry builds often play stronger than they appear provided the player puts time in the work in the gym and has good football disposition.

Part of Moore’s intrigue as a player is his varied projection coupled with elite short area explosiveness. His shuttle (3.96) and vertical (41.5″) are two measurements that translate better to football than the over-hyped 40.

Is he an outside wide receiver? To me the most likely outcome is as a vertical threat. He doesn’t have the long speed or acrobatic ball skills KD Cannon did, but he has the ability to explode off the line and get by defensive backs and the leaping ability to attack the ball in the air. He’s also slight of build, but like Cannon, Moore will muscle up some.

Is he a slot receiver? Maybe, but this requires a toughness and mindset that’s tough to project. He has the fluidity and suddeness to exploit underneath coverage, plus the athleticism to catch a safety napping deep, but is he willing to take shots and fight for yards after contact? These soft traits are what everyone missed on Reggie Hemphill-Mapps.

Josh Moore. (courtesy of Moore)

Is he a corner? Not likely. If you look at him and see how he tests your first impression of him would probably be corner. He does in fact have some overlapping ability to play defense, but roster numbers and talent will dictate the need for him on offense.

The beauty of Josh Moore is he has the natural talent to become pretty much whatever he wants. – Eric Nahlin

Evaluation from the Recruiting Notebook:

Josh Moore, ATH – Yoakum (2018)
Hudl/highlights 

How he fits at Texas: Ferocious East Texas kid with unquestionable athleticism, and wiry frame? Easy call, this kid should be good. The biggest question marks you have for a kid with this level of athleticism on defense is whether or not he has the kind of toughness and love of violence needed, and he does. On offense you ask about the hands, but Moore has a soft pair of mitts, good technique, and a willingness to go up and get it. This kid could currently project to any skill position on offense or defense, we’ll have to see where his body takes him. – Ian Boyd

How this affects Texas: Unlike his brother Jordan, Josh is a freak athlete that translates to major production at the D1 level with hard work and heavy doses of the weight room. He’s always been a Texas fan. His mother, Michelle, is a UT graduate. This trends well for the Longhorns. – JW

Moore is the 24th member to join UT’s Class of 2018 with Mike Williams (Baton Rouge, LA), Daniel Carson (Independence, MO), Anthony Cook (Houston Lamar), Mikey Grandy (College of San Mateo), Ryan Bujcevski (Marist Catholic College – Australia), Junior Angilau (Salt Lake City), D’Shawn Jamison (Houston Lamar), Rafiti Ghirmai (Frisco Wakeland), Malcolm Epps (Spring DeKaney), Keondre Coburn (Spring Westfield), Brennan Eagles (Alief Taylor), Jalen Green (Heights), Al’Vonte Woodard (Lamar), BJ Foster (Angleton), Ayodele Adeoye (Overland, MO), DeMarvion Overshown (Arp), Keaontay Ingram (Carthage), Caden Sterns (Cibolo Steele), Cameron Dicker (Lake Travis), Reese Moore (Seminole), Cameron Rising (Newbury Park, CA), Casey Thompson (Newcastle, OK), Byron Hobbs (FW Eastern Hills).