Lee Trawick, Riverbend News
Jaquez Moore was born on July 19, 2003, to Janet Moore and Anthony Lee. He is a 2021 graduate of Suwannee High School (SHS), where he was a running back, receiver, quarterback and played safety for the SHS Bulldogs.
According to ESPN, Moore was a three-star football recruit and ranked number 80 in the top 100 athletes. Moore racked up 73 touchdowns over his career at Suwannee, so it was only fitting colleges would be calling for his talents, but there is so much more to the next level than talent on the field. There are often kids who climb the high school ranks with excellent skills on the field, but colleges want to know if a player is worth the investment. What kind of grades does the player have? What type of work ethic do they have? How does the player carry themselves at school and in public? Those that can check all of those boxes are players colleges will consider. Moore checked all of those boxes and more for Duke University, with a 7.6 percent acceptance rate. For Moore, moving out of state to go to school wasn't difficult in itself, but it was temporarily difficult leaving his family behind.
"The biggest challenge adjusting to college would be just living on my own without my mom and my brother. We've been together so long it was hard to kind of separate from them for a long time," Moore said. "I've been adjusting very easily, just because everyone up here treats me like family. Of course, I miss my family back home, but the outcome of this journey will be worth it." Not only is Moore adjusting to his new family at Duke University, but he is also adjusting to the speed of the game at the college level. "Everything and everyone on the field moves 10 times faster; from the quarterbacks to the defensive line, everybody can run," Moore said. "That's been the notable difference between high school and college—the speed of the game."
Among the many things that are different at the college level that stands out to him is the amount of film study they all do and how much importance is placed on the weight room. "We spend a lot of time in the film room. Whether it's special teams or if I'm meeting with my position coach, we watch film all the time," Moore said. "In high school, the weight room played a major role in the reason why I was able to get on the field as a freshman. My strength coaches in high school prepared me in every way possible for the next level. Now, they embrace the weight room even more. We have to hit it hard every time we're in there to get better."
Moore went on to talk about how hard work in the classroom and all the sacrifices through high school paid off the first time he put on his jersey. "The feeling was breathtaking. My grades played a major role in getting accepted into Duke. With them being such a prestigious university, it just felt good seeing all the hard work I put into the classroom pay off," Moore said. "Then, putting on the jersey and strapping up my helmet for the first time felt amazing. It felt a little strange not being in green and white with 'Suwannee' across my chest, but to see this new chapter of my life finally begin was the best thing ever. I get to experience that feeling that I have made it; it happens when I wake up every morning and go into the locker room and see my name move up on the special team's depth chart until I was eventually starting. All the older guys in my ear telling me to keep grinding and putting in work and telling me that it was not going unnoticed makes me feel like I've finally made it. But, the job is nowhere near finished; we're just getting started," Moore said.
Moore is grateful for what football has taught him about life and the lessons he will always take with him no matter where his journey takes him. “The biggest lesson football has taught me is to stand tall and finish strong. Life is going to get hard; you’re going to fight battles by yourself, but always keep going,” Moore said. “Never give up. More people are rooting for you than you know. It all gets better in the end, so keep going and finish strong.”
When Moore stepped off the field at Paul Langford Stadium for the last time, he knew it was time for someone else to live and chase after their dreams. Now, Moore encourages those who put on their high school jersey to keep working hard. "The road you want to travel is hard, very hard. Just keep your head down and grind. Grind like no one is watching; grind like you want to retire your mom and take good care of your family. Always keep God first in everything you do and everything will be fine," Moore said. "You can make it. It is possible and don't let anyone tell you that you can't."
Moore acknowledges he was very fortunate to have a support group to help keep him focused on the task at hand. He talks about how easy it is to get distracted and lose focus. “A big distraction for me was the doubters. I was too small and didn’t have what it took. But, to those who may hear that stuff, make sure you always keep God first. No matter what you go through or hear, He’s always going to make sure you’re fine. Be a leader in your group and always show them the right way.”
Moore embraced the responsibility that comes with wearing a green and white jersey for the Suwannee Bulldogs. He never felt the pressure of younger kids looking up to him. “Knowing where I came from and how I used to look up to guys like Aaron McAllister and Steven Anderson gave me the direction to go when it was my time and fill their shoes,” Moore said.
Moore is currently a freshman at Duke University and has climbed the depth chart. He is now a running back for the Blue Devils and is one of the few freshmen to see the field on game days as a starter. Moore often thinks of his former Bulldogs and wishes them all the very best. Moore said he hopes they understand everything that comes with wearing the green and white jersey and wants them always to wear "Suwannee" across their chests with pride.