re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Joshua Moore strongly considering Alabama

Joshua Moore was one of six official visitors Alabama hosted this past weekend for the Tennessee game and one of three prospects who are committed elsewhere.






Moore, a 4-star wide receiver from Yoakum (Texas) High School, committed to Nebraska this past summer, but the Cornhuskers have turned into a mess since his pledge. Nebraska has started 3-4, fresh off a blowout loss against Ohio State, just replaced its athletic director and coach Mike Riley’s job is in jeopardy.

The Under Armour All-America receiver told SEC Country that when he committed to the Cornhuskers over the summer, he had no intentions to take any official visits to programs not named Nebraska. The uncertainty surrounding the program has changed that plan.

“I just want to make sure I make the right decision for me,” Moore said. “My family and I thought it’d be best to keep all options open at the moment. We just want to be smart with the process.”

The nation’s No. 17 wide receiver took his official visit to Nebraska on Oct. 3 and has one set to Florida State on Nov. 4. His trip to Tuscaloosa this past weekend was Moore’s first time on campus. Alabama has recruited Moore strongly over the past year and even after his commitment to Nebraska. The staff considers him to be one of the 2018 recruiting class’ top athletes. Coach Nick Saban actually video chatted Moore while he was at the NFL draft this past spring and gave his usual spiel about how he could be the next great Alabama player to become drafted.

Moore said his first visit to Tuscaloosa couldn’t have gone any better.

“I loved everything about it,” he said. “It was great to spend time with the players and get their thoughts on the program. I loved how they spread the ball around. That’s important to me.






“My favorite part about it was seeing the success they had throwing the ball. The players made me feel at home. They kept it real and told me a lot about the program that I will definitely take into consideration.”

The 6-foot-1, 168-pound prospect didn’t want to expound on the last part of that quote, but he said that if he flipped his commitment the opportunities he’ll have because of the number of receivers leaving is important to him. Robert Foster and Cam Sims will graduate and it’s likely Calvin Ridley will leave for the NFL draft. Alabama’s starting receivers next season will likely all be sophomores with DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy getting the majority of work. Tyrell Shavers, who will be a redshirt freshman in 2018, will likely get playing time, too.

Saban told Moore this past weekend, though, that the team is still recruiting him as an athlete, meaning he could play receiver or defensive back. SEC Country was told that the team is still trying to figure out how the numbers would work out if they did take Moore, if he wanted to flip his commitment.

As of now, Jaylen Waddle is Alabama’s top slot receiver target. His commitment is likely. The Tide also are in the running to land 4-star prospects Justyn Ross and Seth Williams. The team also has a commitment from 4-star receiver Xavier Williams. At defensive back, 5-star prospect Tyson Campbell, junior college prospect Saivion Smith and 4-star prospects Nadab Joseph and Jalyn Armour-Davis remain the projected signees.

Moore, who’s considered one of the faces of Nebraska’s class, acknowledged that he and other Cornhuskers commits still believe in the future of the program, but there’s no doubt that he’s still thinking about reopening his commitment.

“We’ll just have to see how everything plays out,” Moore said.

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