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Notre Dame Football Recruiting

Coach | 2022 Notre Dame S Target Devin Moore "Total Package"

March 12, 2021
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Naples head coach Rick Martin was relieved when Devin Moore‍ put out his Top 7 on last week.

“Finally,” the head coach laughed. “It does make my life a whole lot easier.

“I was trying to explain to him, 'Dude, we’ve got to narrow this down a little bit. I'm cool with you doing all your stuff and you want to wait to the end or whatever you want to do. And I understand you haven't visited anywhere. I get it all, but, come on now.' I said, 'You're not going to some of these schools. Let's narrow this thing down.'”

So, the top 2022 Florida safety released a list that included Notre Dame along with Florida, Florida State, Miami, Alabama, Cincinnati and Stanford.

Martin said the national exposure certainly helped the Irish make the list.

“The idea that Notre Dame is in the Playoff every year and the idea that they're on television every week is definitely something that plays a part of it,” the coach says. “But to be honest with you, and this is what makes Devon different, I think Notre Dame's academics are what puts them high up on that list.

“He is a very driven person when it comes to the classroom and he knows what he wants to do. He knows what he wants his profession to be and he wants to give back to his parents later on in life when he can. And so that's why you see Stanford in that Top 7. That's why you see Notre Dame in the Top 7. The academic part is really important to him.”

Martin says Moore truly is “the total package” in terms of being a great player and an even better person.

“I know that sounds really cliché and you've probably heard that before about other people, but it is the absolute truth with him,” the coach says. “I have had him in class. I was his head freshman coach as well. So, this is kind of my second go-around coaching him.

“From day one, he has been a leader. He has been a great teammate. He has been a great student and he has represented us in the community.”

Martin says when your team’s best players are also its best people, “everything falls into line.”

“It makes your team that much better,” he continues. “He allows me to kind of step away. I don't have to police things and I don't have to do much because with him in the locker room, I know he's handling everything. You should see him with our young DBs. It's incredible the amount of positive influence that he has on this group that we have.”

Physically, Martin says Moore is “long and rangy with great speed.”

“He's got great hips,” he continues. “His footwork has improved tremendously, and he's got great ball skills. He knows how to go up and compete for the ball every rep.“

Martin isn’t sure where Moore goes from here in terms of the next steps of the process.

“I think this dead period is messing with everybody in terms of what is that next step,” he says. “How am I going to visit these places or find out where I really want to go? Devin is a really thoughtful kid and he's not going to make a brash decision on something.

“Even if he asks me, I'm like, ‘I don't know.’ I don't even really know what to tell him.”

 
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