MORGANTOWN — New York City is known as “The City That Never Sleeps” and “The Big Apple.” That’s perfectly fine with Morgantown High senior Jestohn Moore. He has plenty of energy.
Moore will head off to “The Big Apple” next year as he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Fordham University on Wednesday.
“There was a family feel to everything, and that was a big deal to me,” Moore said. “There are also playing time opportunities and other opportunities through academics I had.”
Moore’s trademark on the gridiron is perhaps the passion and zest he brings to the field. Morgantown fans could always be sure of one thing when they watched their team play. They knew Moore would bring his A-game.
“One thing I like to bring is energy and an aggressive feel towards things. If there’s something in the way, I just like to get it out of the way now,” Moore said. “I like putting pressure on people and that aggressive aspect of things.”
Morgantown defensive coordinator Matt Kelly said that level of intensity came naturally to Moore, rather than it being a mentality instilled by his coaches or teammates. He believes it will be a factor that heavily plays into Moore’s success at the collegiate level.
“He’s a guy that showed up every Friday ready to play. We never had to talk him into playing or hype him up,” Kelly said. “He loves football and he loves to play hard. Any time the lights come on, he’s ready to produce.
“They have a good vision for the future with football at Fordham, and I think he just clicks with that. He wants to show up and play in that high energy program there.”
Kelly also expects Moore’s ability as a blitzing linebacker to make an impact in the program and for him to wreak havoc for FCS linemen because of it.
“He’s a very tough blitzer. Opposing coaches were always worried about him getting into the backfield,” he said. “I think that’s something he can bring to the next level immediately. His ability to get a rush off the edge or a blitz up the middle is something to keep an eye on.”
Moore will join Morgantown alumnus Shane Fogarty, who serves as an assistant coach for the Rams. Fogarty led the Mohigans to a state championship in 2001 and recorded a 25-2 record as a starting quarterback.
“I think that was a little bit of connection, too,” Kelly said. “Having two guys who had a lot of success here at the next level at Fordham is pretty cool.”
Other signees
Morgantown senior Madison McDonald loves a good surprise.
While most athletes will unofficially commit ahead of their signing day, McDonald wanted to keep her collegiate choice a secret until she signed her LOI. Wednesday, she ended the suspense by announcing she chose Fairmont State University as her next home.
“I was originally going to go to West Virginia Wesleyan, and then some things changed, and I didn’t really want that out there yet,” she said. “I had a talk with my parents about academic stuff, and then I made my decision. Everyone knows now.”
McDonald will bring a fierce work ethic and team mentality to the court for Fairmont, which she chose in large part due to an academic decision.
“They’re one of the few schools that offer a national security and intelligence major, and that’s something I’ve always been interested in,” McDonald said. “I felt like if I didn’t take part in that, it’d be a huge mistake on my part.”
Also signing Wednesday at Morgantown was baseball duo Caleb Taylor and Quintin Smith, who play integral roles for the Mohigans — as well as the Post 2 Legion team that represents the city.
Smith announced his commitment to Garrett College (Md.), while Taylor will head off to Potomac State College, where he’ll join former teammates Andrew Berry and Tyler Shorter.
