Grayson Moore set to blaze a trail to Valdosta State
Of all the standout players on Ridgeland’s 2016 football team, perhaps no one player was a bigger surprise than senior Grayson Moore.
But it shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone who has seen the athletic Moore play the game that he had talents that were suited for college football and this upcoming fall, he’ll get his chance to prove it.
Moore, one of the most versatile Panthers in recent memory, signed a letter of intent with longtime NCAA Division II power Valdosta State on Wednesday, adding his name to an ever-growing list of Ridgeland players who have signed on to play at the next level.
“It feels good to be able to keep playing a sport I love to play,” said the soft-spoken Moore. “The coach (at Valdosta State) has a winning mentality and I want to win. I was also looking at Shorter (University) and Lindsey Wilson (College), but I thought Valdosta (State) was the best for me.”
Moore showed flashes of what he could do on the gridiron late in his junior season and by the time his senior season rolled around, he had become one of the region’s most valuable players.
He had a breakout game against Northwest Whitfield, rushing for a career-high 166 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, including a 75-yard scoring sprint late in the fourth quarter to seal a big win.
He also turned in a big-time performance against county rival LaFayette. Touching the ball just five times, he went for 263 all-purpose yards. He carried three times for 140 yards, including runs of 20
and 44 yards and a 76yard TD in the second quarter. He had a 59yard catch-and-run for a TD on the Panthers’ second play of the third quarter and later ran back a punt 64 yards to set up another score.
Moore finished the year with 738 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdown, 11 catches for 270 yards and four
more scores. He also had 24 tackles on defense, 29 assists and broke up two passes.
Those numbers earned him a first team All-Region selection at running back and an All-State honorable mention nod from the Georgia Sports Writers Association.
“Toward the end of his junior year, you could see the potential he had,” head coach Wesley Tankersley said. “Last spring, he asked to
play running back and he really helped us in a lot of big games. He was a great competitor for us on the field and made a lot of plays when we needed them. He was really instrumental in helping us win a region championship this year.”
The 6-foot-3 and nearly 200-pounder said the Blazers are looking at him as a linebacker. The brother of former Ridgeland standout and South Carolina signee,
Mason Harris, said he’s already gotten some advice about the world of college football from his older sibling.
“He just said I need to get my weight up and get ready,” Moore explained. “He said the coaches are a lot harder on you in college and there’s no laying out. He just wants me to get better.”
Moore said he would likely major in Accounting or Physical Therapy.