MORGANTOWN — Jestohn Moore has a bit of a conflict heading into his senior season at Morgantown High.
The linebacker already received a few Division-I offers to play at the next level, but there’s a couple more he would like to get, specifically from Power-5 schools, before making his final decision.
But Moore also has friends that already play college ball that told him to enjoy his final season in high school because it doesn’t get any easier.
“A lot of people have told me that it can be a lot like a job in college, so I’m going to have fun this season while I still can,” he said. “I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
And the Mohigans will need him to as one of the veteran leaders on the team, heading into a Week 1 showdown at home against Parkersburg on Aug. 23. With several defenders gone from last year, including Neil McKnight, Tre Barnes, Cole Streyle, Jayron Wilson, Sabri Juma and Moore’s older brother Javohn, Jestohn will have to produce on the field and off.
Defensive coordinator Matt Kelly doesn’t seem too worried about Moore’s ability to do so.
“He goes out there and leads by example and a lot of the younger kids are really starting to look up to him,” Kelly said. “You can tell he really wants it. He’s seen both of his older brothers, John (played at University High) and Javohn, play in high school, and he’s really good friends with Amir Richardson, and I just think he wants to take this team to a level we haven’t been in a while that his brothers didn’t quite get to.”
Moore is excited about the crop MHS will take to the field this season offensively and defensively. He’s also part of the receiving corps and should be one of the top targets for either Cam Rice or Chris Burke, whoever wins the starting quarterback battle.
His heart lies on defense, though, as an edge-rusher at linebacker. Following a 73-tackle, 4-sack season as a junior, Moore’s game translate to a “spur” type position when compared to the 3-3-5 scheme West Virginia runs.
“Offense is great for now in high school, but I have a thing for defense,” Moore said. “Colleges like me as an outside linebacker and that’s what I want to do.”
He holds offers from The Citadel, Morgan State, Saint Francis and Robert Morris, and picked up an offer from Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday.
He also has an offer from Division-II Wheeling Jesuit.
Kelly thinks college coaches like Moore’s overall body of work.
“Jestohn’s got pretty good speed for an outside linebacker — he’s about 210 pounds and he’s 6-foot-2,” Kelly said. “His build is perfect for the defenses you see in college now. His work ethic is great and he rarely misses the weight room and when he’s there, he’s usually going pretty hard. He’s pretty good in school — all of the things college coaches look for, that’s what Jestohn has.”
