An Interview with Byron Moore
Byron Moore (6'1", 205 lbs) is a junior college safety in an interesting situation. Moore was a USC commit for the 2009 class, redshirted his freshman year and decided to transfer to Los Angeles Harbor Community College for this season. As many other players did, Byron left the program after the NCAA sanctions came down. His situation is unique because he is not at the junior college because of grades or any other reason than the fact that he didn't want to sit out another year of football. He's now going through the recruiting process again, and here's what he had to say about Michigan:
TOM: I know it's still early for you, but how will Michigan play into your recruitment this time around?
BYRON: Michigan has called my coach and my dad a few times. They're really handling everything for me right now. Back in high school I had a real good relationship with Coach Dews, so I'm looking forward to talking with him again.
TOM: This is a different situation for you. You had an offer from Michigan initially, but do you have one now? Do they need to re-offer you?
BYRON: Yeah, they technically need to re-offer me I guess. The coaches there told me that if I want to come play for them then I just need to let them know. I basically have an offer from them.
TOM: Are you going to take all your visits again?
BYRON: I'm not sure where I'm going to go yet, but I do get to take my visits again. I'm looking forward to maybe setting up a visit out to Michigan though.
TOM: What other schools are you hearing from now?
BYRON: I'm hearing from Washington State, they came by last Friday, UCLA is calling, and I know Penn State has sent me a few emails. I'm mainly focusing on school right now to make sure my grades are in order. I'm just trying to make it through this year until June and get on my way.
TOM: What are you looking for this time around? Does it help to have experience going through the process once before?
BYRON: I'm pretty much looking for somewhere that I can play right now, and get a good education. Going through the process before helped me a lot. It helped me know what to look for and what questions to ask. It will just make everything easier for me.
**I also spoke with Byron's current head coach, Brett Peabody, who had nothing but good things to say about him.
Byron is a first class human being. He has great parents, and a great home life. I've known him for a while now. He plays both corner and free safety for us right now, and there's no doubt he could play that at a D1 school. There's a reason he was a US Army All American out of high school; he's an exceptional athlete.
He's focusing on his season right now, but Michigan could definitely use this type of player, and someone that could come in to compete right away. Since he's at JUCO for different reasons than most it will be interesting to see if Michigan is a realistic opportunity for him. From everything that I've been told it doesn't sound like it would be much of a problem, but you never know.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
Safety that wants a good education and immediate playing time? Come on over to AA!
October 6th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
Intriguing to say the least...
October 6th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
it will be nice to see the defense improving significantly each of the coming years, with the development of our youth and the recruitment of top-notch and ready players such as Bryon Moore, and other solid defensive recruits... we have some exciting years ahead of us gentlemen...
October 6th, 2010 at 3:29 PM ^
Would be interesting to see if they could get a JUCO through the admissions office. Michigan hasn't been able to go the JUCO route very often.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
I've also been wondering about this, since I've never heard an answer to the question: If a student comes to an FBS from JUCO, will that student still have to sit for the season following the transfer?
October 6th, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^
I don't have any specific way to prove this but I'm 99% sure that a JUCO can play immediately upon reaching campus.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
For proof refer to WAC/MWC/pretty much any team from a non BCS conference as nearly all of them are big recruiters of JUCO players. Juco's are able to come in and play the next year without sitting out, think high school recruits just with less eligibility.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
Why look to the WAC or MWC? We have Tim "JC" Brewster in our own conference. He has brought in a ton of Junior College players since coming to Minnesota.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
Eh, I'm from Nevada and went to the Air Force Academy, so I went with what I knew........
October 6th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
Austin Panter came to AA and played immediately, which was disappointing. It would have been better, IMO, if he had red-shirted for a year.,
October 6th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
Agreed that M doesn't go the JuCo route very often, but Russell Shaw ('96-'97) went to el Camino Community College before enrolling at Michigan. I don't recall the circumstances of how he transferred in but I remember thinking it was unusual to have a JuCo player at the time.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
He does not need to transfer anything as he already was a qualifier out of high school. Unless Michigan reviews his high school stuff and says no what he did this year does not matter (unless he got a bunch of F's that is)
October 6th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^
Anything can help right now, especially a guy that has more experience playing football period. Even if the experience is not necessarily against D1 teams, he has more experience than incoming freshman. It would be nice to pick Moore up and some of the recruits we are trying to get (Walls, Crawford, and others).
October 6th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
The only question would be whether his credits from community college would transfer. I suspect that depends highly on what his course load looks like, but I'd be surprised if he could get all of his CC credits accepted by M. Don't know if that has any effect on eligibility.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
It won't have any effect on eligibility, although it may have an effect on desirability (as in, he may wish to go to a school where all of his credits are accepted.) Still, he has a year at USC and those credits shouldn't be a problem, so he should be on course to graduate in 3 more years at M regardless; I would expect JUCO credits would be a minor issue at most.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
Welcome to a special orientation, admissions department, hosted by GERG. Today he will teach the "bend don't break" principle of "admit don't deny" all-star athletes.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
For those who care (and are too lazy to go look for themselves), Moore was a 4*, #6 safety, and #92 overall to Scout; a 4*, #6 safety, and #98 overall to Rivals; and an 82, #3 athlete, and #70 overall to ESPN. Also, he went to the same high school as Sean Parker.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:42 PM ^
Thanks for the info. Would love to get him.
<br>But one request. As the Michigan nation seeks comfort with Sam Webb's gut feeling this week, Sean Parker references should be kept to a minimum.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:00 PM ^
wasn't wrong on Sean Parker. It's just that Parker changed his mind after the gut feeling
October 6th, 2010 at 7:29 PM ^
That is the exact worry in this case.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
until it ended up being wrong.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
highly rated and can come and play right away. yes please. also note to RR - please call admissions this time.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^
Yep, you read my mind.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
Actually, since it's a D recruit, GERG is on this one. See his orientation program for the admissions department in my other comment further down this thread.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
This is exactly what I was asking for 2 weeks ago. I KNEW the coaches read this blog! /s
October 6th, 2010 at 3:58 PM ^
If he came to Michigan? Does the redshirt count? Would it be 2 or 3?
October 6th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
His first year (2009) he redshirted, and so didn't use any eligibility. 2010 will count as his RS frosh year, so wherever he ends up, he'll be a RS soph next fall (2011). He would have 3 years of eligibility remaining.
October 6th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
Do that thing you do
October 6th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
Can someone explain how Byron would go to a junior college AFTER a year at USC? I understand how he would have his entire eligibility left, but why would he go to a JUCO after redshirting? Wouldn't it be better to stay at USC and practice with the team as a redshirt than transfer and play for a junior college and the (assumed) inferior talent and coaching? I'm missing something here . . .
October 6th, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^
Yes you are missing something. USC wouldn't be redshirting him.
October 6th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^
I don't exactly understand what you're asking, but it might be because you don't understand what happened. He went to USC and redshirted his first (and only) year there. He then decided he didn't want to play for USC anymore. His choices were (a) pick a school immediately and sit out his true freshman season due to the transfer and be eligible for the 2011 season, or (b) go to JUCO, play football in 2010 (not just practice with the scout team) and take 6 months or so to decide what school he wanted to spend his 3 remaining years of eligibility.
If he would have known for sure which school he wanted to transfer to, he might have done that. Instead, he gets to actually play for a year and do his due diligence again when picking his school. Not a bad way to go, IMO.
October 6th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
No sweat.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Weren't USC players allowed to transfer without penalty because of the NCAA sanctions? Did he transfer before this? Or am I just wrong?
October 6th, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
Only juniors and seniors could transfer without penalty.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I believe it was linked to the number of bowl games that USC was banned from.
October 6th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
to juniors and seniors.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Juniors and Seniors
Edit: Lesson 1 - When reading through a thread, hit refresh before replying to posts to avoid awkward echo......
October 6th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
Couldn't start a thread, someone please start one.
October 6th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
There's a good reason why you can't.
Not trying to be that guy but that story has been posted a few times today.
I
October 6th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
I did a quick look, was walking out quick. My apologies.
October 6th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^
I smell a troll trying to stir the pot.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
I'm not a troll, my old account is inaccessible because I lost my password in a reformat and no longer have access to the email I used to register. Sorry about the double post--it wont happen again.
October 6th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
Lord Byron
(i would normally put something funny or witty here, but his work is rather dry)
October 6th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
going to a team where he could play right away.
October 6th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^
Man, how could there be a better situation than here? Blanket media attention on DRob the next two years, desperate need for safeties - certain playing time, expecially for a skilled player who will be probably 20 and mature. Why can't we just have him now?!
October 6th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
This makes too much sense for both parties and hence will effed up by some invisible hand so we can play walk ons or guys that switch positions. Maybe we should tell him to be recruited as a RB to slip under the radar.
October 6th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
That's good. Byron Moore, RB. Or Byron Moore, K. Or Byron Moore, two-star OLineman. These will get through.
Comments