Independence C.C. TE Commits to Washington
When Quentin Moore was looking to continue his football career coming out of Inglemoor High School in 2019 he only had three scholarship offers.
The problem at the time was not whether or not Moore had the talent to play high level college football. He simply did not have the grades required to go anywhere except to a junior college.
Less than two years later his hometown school of choice, the University of Washington, rewarded his hard work in the class room with an offer on March 12. Over the last two months Moore has cut his list of schools from 25 down to 15 before he announced his commitment on Sunday.
“Man… First I just want to thank all of my family, friends and coaches for pushing and supporting me through this process. I want to thank everyone that has stayed by my side along this journey as well. I want to thank all of the coaches at Independence Community College for taking a chance on me helping me grow and mature so I would be ready to play at the next level. Lastly I would like to give a special thanks to my mom for being my biggest role model, teacher, coach and my hero. Thank you for supporting me no matter what was going on. I still remember the day she told me she had breast cancer like it was yesterday. She didn’t even tear up. She still showed up to all of my practices and games even a week after she had the surgery. She was at my game rooting for me in the stands like nothing had happened. She is the strongest person I know. I know it was hard to send your baby (to) Independence, Kansas to play football but don’t worry… I AM COMING HOME,” Moore wrote in a post on social media to announce his pledge.
Moore, listed at 6-foot-6 and 250-pounds, is the second tight end prospect to add his name to the Huskies 2021 class joining three-star Eatonville High School product Caden Jumper. He marks the fourth offensive addition of the seven overall commits UW holds for the class.
“The fact that it’s my hometown and I have the opportunity to play in front of all my family and friends,” Moore said, when asked why UW was a dream offer for him earlier this spring. “Also just the amount of people that said I couldn’t do it. Wanted to prove them wrong.”
In early March when UW made its official offer it marked the culmination of a process years in the making. Traditionally there aren’t many junior college prospects that come to the university based on several factors, one predominant one being academic admissions.
Back in high school Moore graduated with a 1.8 grade point average. In his time at Independence Community College it has nearly doubled to 3.1. It’s that visible growth which gave UW tight end coach Derham Cato the faith to offer Moore earlier this spring and it paid of in the form of his commitment on Sunday.
“I’m glad I had to do it this way. It has really changed me for the better,” Moore said back in March after UW offered. “It was a little difficult to adjust at first but it wasn’t that bad. I’m way more responsible, mentally tough and mature.”