Jason Moore is proof that one can never count out Larry Johnson.
Moore, a Hyattsville, Maryland, native, was predicted to commit to Notre Dame for most of his recruitment, as both former Irish head coach Brian Kelly and current program leader Marcus Freeman had captured momentum with the 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end.
However, when Johnson hosted Moore on an official visit to Columbus in late June, all of that momentum shifted to the Buckeyes. He later committed to Ohio State in July.
The Moore File
- Class: 2023
- Size: 6-6 / 255
- Pos: Defensive lineman
- School: DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
- Star Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #65 (#8 DL)
"I would say just being out there and the atmosphere," Moore told 247Sports about the factors that led to his decision. "Just getting the feeling they would develop me, and they would be pushing me to be the best version of myself on and off the field.
"Just spending time with the staff, the players, you see how close they are to each other. They were open with me, accepting to me to be around. It was like a true brotherhood."
Over five months later, Moore has officially accepted his scholarship as a member of that brotherhood by signing his National Letter of Intent and becomes the first player from DeMatha Catholic to play for the Buckeyes since Chase Young, who racked up 68 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, 30.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in three seasons as a defensive end from 2017-19.
A young man of few words. He prefers to let the pads talk for him. The kid from Fort Washington, MD is going to be a menace for Big Ten offensive gameplans for years to come. The next great Buckeye from DeMatha Catholic. Welcome to The Brotherhood Jason#CHO23N | @jayymoneyy32_ pic.twitter.com/tyn3dunmAn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 21, 2022
While Ohio State will be cautious about tossing Predator-like expectations on Moore just because they are from the same town and played for the same high school, the Buckeyes see plenty of potential in the No. 65 overall prospect and No. 6 defensive end in the 2023 class.
Moore uses strength and lower-body control to push around offensive linemen quickly and shed blocks. He handles double teams well with great awareness, frequently disrupting quarterbacks on their three or five-step drops or running backs as they take handoffs out of the backfield. His length is also a problem for opposing offenses, as pass deflections are frequent near the line of scrimmage.
In 2021, Moore dominated as a pass rusher and racked up 13 sacks, earning first-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and first-team All-Maryland honors for his efforts. His best individual performance from that season came in his final appearance for the Stags when Moore recorded two sacks, five tackles for loss, two pass deflections and a strip-sack that led to a defensive touchdown in a 17-15 loss to Good Counsel for DeMatha Catholic.
As a senior in 2022, Moore continued his reign of terror over high school teams in Hyattsville – an urban suburb to the northwest of the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. For the second consecutive year, he finished with 13 sacks and added 18 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
After the 2022 season, Moore earned first-team all-conference and was named the WCAC Defensive Player of the Year. According to his head coach Bill McGregor, Moore was also tabbed the Maryland Player of the Year by the Washington Post and is the top-five finalist for the state's Gatorade Player of the Year.
Until Moore arrives in Columbus, which won't happen until at least June as DeMatha Catholic does not permit students to enroll early in a college program, he will work to stay in shape ahead of summer workouts and fall camp with the Buckeyes next year.
In his first year or more at Ohio State, Moore will look to continue adding mass and strength to his broad and lengthy frame. He could also benefit from learning additional pass-rush moves to widen his arsenal in the future if he cannot win one-on-one matchups using strength alone.
Still, there should be moments next fall for Moore to flash his potential, most likely if and when he enters an already-decided game for the Buckeyes. That's something Ohio State fans watched Mike Hall Jr. and Tyleik Williams display in 2021, as well as Caden Curry in 2022. Perhaps Moore can be the latest to have that kind of impact when he suits up in scarlet and gray for the first time in 2023.
