Meet Potential BYU Running Back Denesheo Moore
Jake Edmonds 06/19/2012Through an odd series of events, I was able to come across a running back from Citrus Heights, California named Denesheo Moore. Do not be disappointed if you haven’t heard of this kid before. He is not high on anybodies list of recruits. But we are happy to help shed light on Moore and hopefully get him on BYU’s radar.
The thing about many recruiting articles is that they typically feature athletes that are being officially recruited by specific programs. This article is designed to go against the grain a bit. Denesheo Moore is not currently on BYU’s watchlist – not even close. In fact, BYU was not even on Moore’s radar until he met Elder Spencer Hadley.
Hadley, now a linebacker for BYU, served in the California Roseville mission. It was there that he first met 16-year-old Denesheo Moore.
Here is Moore’s story:
“All my life I had wondered where was the prophet and where were the apostles? None of my other churches knew the answer but a 17 and 15 year old had the answers. One day talking to my best friends. They were telling me about their church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following day I walked into church where Spencer pulled me out and talked to me. I told him my story and he was way excited.
“Not too often do they have people walking into church wanting to be baptized. It was the next week when someone said Spencer was a linebacker at BYU and I thought, ‘Big whoop is that some kind of junior college?’ It was then that I did some research and found out they were actually ranked 13th in the after knocking off number 3 Oklahoma in football. my thought was if I can play the sport I love with people who hold my standards, that would be amazing. After that I became a die hard fan and I will stop at nothing to make it to BYU.”
On December 19, 2009 Moore became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has since made a goal to follow in Elder Hadley’s path and play football for the Cougars.
“What interests me about BYU is the LDS atmosphere it presents,” said Moore, “I love sports and school as well, and having all of those rolled into one beautiful location, how could I want anything else?”
The problem for Moore is getting the attention needed to become a BYU recruit. The high school Moore attended, San Juan High School, was not big enough to support a competitive football team so he only received one junior college offer to play ball out of high school.
John Clay (Wikimedia Commons)
But that hasn’t stopped Moore from working hard towards his ultimate goal of putting on a BYU jersey. While he may not be the fastest running back to come out of California, Moore compares himself to Steelers running back John Clay – a bruising back that can pack a punch. Moore currently runs a 5.09 40, can bench 350 and squat 450. But he vows to improve those numbers down the road.
Moore plans on paying it forward and serving an LDS mission in Puebla, Mexico. He leaves on September 26, so we probably will not be hearing about him in the headlines any time soon, but he has potential. Besides, it is only fair for kids like Moore who grew up in small-town, USA to get some exposure and we are glad to help him out.
You can follow Denesheo on Twitter, @denesheo.
