L.J. Moore to Oklahoma: Sooners Land 4-Star DB Recruit

The Oklahoma Sooners have landed 4-star defensive back L.J. Moore out of Central East High School (Fresno, Calif.), according to a report by Robert Cassidy of Rivals.com:

The big-time recruit now has a chance to help a big-time program.

As a safety-cornerback hybrid, Moore brings a uniquely versatile skill set to Oklahoma. At 6'2" and 185 pounds, he has plenty of room to grow into his tall frame.

According to 247Sports, Moore received offers from various schools during the recruiting process, including Oregon State, Arizona State, Oklahoma, UCLA and Texas Tech, among others. He was also recruited by Notre Dame in September. 

247Sports' composite rankings list him as the 22nd-best cornerback and the 259th-best overall prospect in the 2013 class. Based on his abilities and his 4.50 40-yard dash, it's easy to see why he garnered plenty of interest.

ESPN's scouting profile indicates that Moore is exceptional in both man and zone coverages. That not only means that he has exceptional speed and hips, but it also shows that he has a solid base in defensive schematics and that he can drive to the football.

His size should translate well as an effective bump-and-run corner at the collegiate level, while his ability to tackle will also serve Oklahoma well since he has proven he can help out even from his cornerback position in run support.

The tale of the tape at the Nike Football Training Camp in Oakland (h/t ESPN) showed that Moore struggled to defend the square-in pattern several times but was effective in jamming receivers at the line.

Those were some of the more highly-touted high school receivers, though, and Moore's size has allowed him to be successful in high school.

It will be very intriguing to see what Moore can do once he hits the weight room at Oklahoma. Even adding an extra 10 or 15 pounds would go a long way. As long as he can maintain his speed and agility, the added strength would only make him that much more of a threat as a shutdown cornerback.