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U.Va. recruit Morgan Moses shines even before he starts to play
David Teel
July 8, 2009

Predictably, the procession off the bus was slow. These were, after all, teenagers at 8:30 a.m., in early July.

Can you say sleepwalk?

"They're tired and sore," one coach remarked of the East high school all-stars as they trudged toward a practice for Friday's annual bash against the West at Darling Stadium.

But where was Morgan Moses? Certainly the Parade All-American offensive tackle and University of Virginia signee would be easy to spot, all 6-foot-7, 330 pounds of him.

Yet as player after player filed off the bus, pads slung over shoulders, there wasn't a behemoth in sight.

Had Moses canceled? Overslept? Happens all the time during all-star week.

Finally, one last person bounded down the steps. Wearing an orange U.Va shirt, he was big as a boulder, with a grin to match.

"He has the attitude you want to see from kids in all-star games," said East assistant coach Chris Thurman, the big whistle at Bristol's Virginia High School. "Look at him, always smiling and happy. He's one of those kids coaches can't have enough of."

Question is, will U.Va.'s coaches have Moses in training camp next month?

A recent graduate of Meadowbrook High near Richmond, Moses expects an answer in about two weeks. That's when he's due to receive his final standardized test results.

If the score meets NCAA standards, Moses heads to Charlottesville, where Cavaliers coach Al Groh calls him "a towering presence at his position."

If Moses falls short, he will attend prep school, most likely Fork Union Military Academy, a haven for top-flight football prospects needing to enhance their academic credentials.

U.Va. recruit Morgan Moses shines even before he starts to play - dailypress.com