Florida Gators offensive line commit T.J. Moore (6-5, 290, Charlotte, NC. Mallard Creek) has visited Florida several times in the past but this weekend he took his official visit to Gainesville.
This visit was his first time being on campus since he committed in December and it was a successful visit he says.
“The trip overall was amazing, it isn’t just about partying or hanging out with your teammates,” Moore said of the visit. “It’s about that I made a family in less than a week with Coach Mac, the offensive coordinator [Doug Nussmeier] and the rest of the coaching staff. I know when I get there that it’s going to be different because everyone has the same mindset that we have to get the job done for the team and to provide for our families.”
Moore not only had a current player to host him but he had a current player explain to him how he needs to adjust to college life once he arrives.
“My host was Jonesy [Richerd Desir-Jones and we had like a good 45-minute conversation about everything,” he said. “He was telling me that when I get down there that you can have fun but you have to make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do. He told me to stay away from the females and just to work hard. I know when I get down there I’ll be ready.”
Desir-Jones wasn’t the only player that Moore got a chance to spend time with as it was an overall big group of people with the offensive lineman.
“I bonded with everybody this weekend, all of my teammates were cool,” Moore said. “I was with the quarterbacks, the cornerbacks, the running backs, and even the long snapper was cool. I was with Fred [Johnson], Chauncey [Gardner] and Tez [Martez] Ivey mainly, though. It was fun.”
All of the players were telling Moore different things to keep in mind but there’s one common message given to him.
“Everyone was just telling me not to come in here with a redshirt mindset,” he said of the player’s messages to him. “They said that the coaches aren’t trying to redshirt me and I’m trying to come down in May to school so I can get bigger. They said that the coaches want me to start and I know that they have a good offensive line but they’re just trying to improve.”
Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has been the mainstay in the relationship with Moore since Mike Summers left Florida and the two got to spend some time together this weekend.
“He just loves me, he was watching my film the whole time I was there,” Moore said of Nussmeier. “He likes how physical I am and how I play the game. Coach Nuss is like a father figure to me. I can just tell that he and Coach Mac are the same way and that they care about their players.”
Replacing Mike Summers as the offensive line coach is something everyone is talking about and something head coach Jim McElwain spoke to Moore about this weekend.
“We talked about the offensive line coach and I think Coach Mac knows who it’s going to be,” he said of his talks with McElwain. “He just can’t tell me or can’t release it but he said that the coach would be like the rest of the coaching staff and would be a great person. There’s a lot he said but I’m not sure if I can say everything.”
Since Moore is already committed to Florida, he spent a lot of time this weekend recruiting others to join him in Gainesville.
“I was recruiting the linebacker [Nick Smith] and a few of the other guys,” Moore said. “I could tell that they were enjoying themselves, they were laughing and smiling with all of our teammates. I was just telling them that Florida is a great place. Hopefully, we get a lot of commits on signing day.”
There was some talk that Moore would take a visit this coming weekend but he says after a successful visit to Florida that he’s done with visits.
“I’m not going to visit Auburn, I talked to the coach yesterday [Sunday] and told him that,” he said. “He respected my decision and everything worked out good. I’m done with the process and I’m going to sign with Florida on signing day.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Moore is a prospect that can play any position on the offensive line and is someone that could crack the two-deep next year if he comes and gets stronger. Moore is also one of those guys that will be a leader in the locker room as not only is a smart player but is a guy that players like.