Memphis DT has Clemson at top of his list

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Fri Feb 10 10:51:30 GMT-04:00 2012

The Clemson Tigers lost defensive tackle Brandon Thompson to graduation this year, but his replacement might be just around the corner.

Herbert Moore Herbert Moore
Defensive Tackle
6-1, 335
Memphis, TN
View Full Profile is a big (6-1, 325) tackle prospect in the 2013 class out of Memphis (East) Tennessee, and he told TigerNet this week that the Tigers sit atop his list at the moment.

Moore even says that Thompson – an All-ACC performer who is projected to be drafted high in this year’s NFL draft – is someone he patterns his game after.

“I watched Brandon Thompson a lot, and I pattern my playing style after him,” Moore said. “I like the way Brandon plays. He stays low, and he takes on double teams really well. He handles all of those matchups really well.”

In fact, Moore says that Clemson’s recent success with both Thompson and Jarvis Jenkins is one of the reasons he has Clemson – which offered last fall – atop his list.

“It is a good place, and I really like Clemson,” he said. “It is the perfect place for d-tackles like me. They are at the top.”

Moore said the offer came from recruiter and defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks during the football season last year.

“It came across during the season, and they talked to the coaches and the news got back to me,” Moore said. “Coach Brooks, I talk to him every now and then on Facebook, and he sometimes stops by the school to check on me. I just know him as a good coach, but over the summer I want to get a visit down to Clemson and talk to him more.”

The first order of business for the Memphis junior, however, is getting healthy after tearing ligaments in his ankle in a game last October against rival and undefeated Whitehaven.

“I got hurt playing in a big game against Whitehaven,” he said. “It was my ligaments. I get the cast off in three weeks, which will be a little over three months since the injury. It is going to feel kind of funny just getting back into the groove and everything, but I am sure I can manage it.”

Moore has offers from North Carolina, Clemson, Vanderbilt and Illinois with several other schools showing interest, and will take most of his visits over the summer. That includes one to Clemson.

“Probably near the summer time I will head to Clemson,” he said. “I have to get back in shape and get stuff straightened out, and then I will be ready.”