Replacement for Mitch Hyatt? Virginia OL recaps Clemson offer

Moore has been training at both guard and tackle

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sun May 13 08:53:33 GMT-04:00 2018

Clemson offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell might have found a replacement for left tackle Mitch Hyatt.

Caldwell made the trek to Virginia this past week, and one of the priority offers he dispensed went to Nokesville (VA) Patriot 3-star offensive lineman Jakai Moore. Moore currently holds 18 offers, including Florida St., Miami (FL), Michigan, Penn St. and Southern Cal.

Clemson was an offer he was waiting on.

“Honestly, it's amazing. It is,” Moore told TigerNet. “Clemson is a top school and they've been a top school for a long time. It's amazing to me. Coach Caldwell, he came to my school and talked to my head coach and he told my head coach that he was offering me.”

Moore says the Clemson and Alabama games have been fun to watch, and now he wants to visit Clemson and see if he feels at home.

“I watched the Clemson and Alabama games because those are rivalry games. Growing up, I was a big Alabama fan,” Moore said. “I want to learn more about Clemson. I want to go on a visit and have a great time and see if they could be my school.

“I don't know when I will be down there, I need to talk to my mom about it. I just want to get there and get a feel for the school and get to know the people and get to know everyone. I want to see if I feel comfortable and see if I fit that program at Clemson.”

Early playing time is a major draw for the 6-5, 295-pounder, who is listed as a guard but might play tackle on the next level.

“That means a lot to me. He (Caldwell) was telling my coach that the left tackle is leaving after this year and that I have a good chance of coming in and making an impact at left tackle,” Moore said. “He told me that Hyatt played as a true freshman and I would love to be able to play as a true freshman.

“It doesn't matter to me whether I play guard or tackle. I have been working out at both guard and tackle because I don't know where I will be playing in college. A lot of coaches tell me that I am going to be playing tackle so I have been working on both because I have no idea where I will be playing.”