Avery Moss Chooses Nebraska
Photo Credit: Preslie Hirsch
Preslie Hirsch, Editor-in-Chief
January 3, 2012
Filed under Sports
Many high school athletes spend years of their educational career putting in countless hours of sweat and effort, preparing themselves for the next level: collegiate athletics. Though, not many stumble upon a sport they’ve never played before their junior year and end up with nine full-ride offers to multiple Division I schools. But standing at 6-foot-2, weighing 240 pounds and playing defensive end in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 3, senior Avery Moss is nothing less than a success story.
“Half-way though my junior year was my first time going out there on varsity and stuff, and I guess I’ve done pretty well since,” Moss said.
Many coaches and recruiters agree.
“Avery is an outstanding prospect and a potential All-American. He looks like a basketball player playing football at times but has what it takes to become a remarkable pass-rushing end,” Tom Lemming, pro football recruiter and scout said on the All American Bowl website. “(He) has huge hands, loves physical contact, shows a great burst, and just needs to add weight and strength and then look out.”
Moss committed to Nebraska in the fourth quarter of the bowl game, with his father and now fellow teammate and Corona alumni, Todd Peat, standing by. Many speculate Moss’s decision was greatly influenced by close friend Peat. Although Moss says Peat was the reason he began playing football, in addition to being “one of the only sports you can hit people legally,” he denies Peat swayed his decision.
“Education, the character of the coaches I want to be playing for and the environment (were factors in my decision),” Moss said. “My family had a big influence, that’s what it came down to. Whether or not they (the school) were going to be engaged with my family. My dad is (supportive), but my mom doesn’t want me to get hurt.”
In addition to family, Moss’ decision was greatly weighed by educational opportunities, and “that’s why it came down to Nebraska and Purdue,” Moss said.
“I am going to major in psychology and major in business,” Moss said. “I want to be an Industrial Organization psychologist, psychology in the business world.”
Moss continued, “Nebraska leads the NCAA in Academic All Americans and that stuck out to me.”
He claims to have made his decision about a week before the bowl game, but speculation about the highly anticipated choice flooded the media outlets long before.
“Before that I’d say some people already knew, and the reporters are always trying to squeeze the juice out of you,” Moss said. “I am so glad it’s over with. It’s been hell (the recruitment process). If my kid is an athlete, I am going to feel sorry for him in the recruitment process. I’m going to tell him to commit early because it gets crazy.”
It has not yet been determined whether Moss will have playing time or redshirt as a freshman Cornhusker, but he is open to both options.
“I know they have a lot of people in my position that are going to be seniors, so I could just redshirt and take that year off and start my four years after that, or I could take the competition head up,” Moss said.
Moss is more than ready for the competition of a Division I football program and is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to say the least.
“(College competition will be) 10 times harder than what I experienced in this All American Bowl,” Moss said. “In the next level, motivation will be that I’m getting a free education, and thankful.”
