LJ Moore Note (Updated 7:52 am)
Posted on: February 24, 2014
Image from 247sports.com
There have been some rumors about LJ Moore and his current status with the team. We asked around and we were told by one source that LJ Moore has indeed left the team. In fact our source said that LJ left the team more than a week ago.
We have not confirmed this information from a second source so we are not going to speak definitively on this but we will say that the first source had mentioned in the past that this was a possibility as LJ seemed to really want to be at home. He also said that the coaches have tried to work with Moore in order to bring him back to the team but according to the source it was an unsuccessful attempt.
If Moore is indeed gone, we aren’t sure yet if there is still a possibility that Moore can return to the team. But again we were told that the coaches made every effort to keep him at Oklahoma.
We want to also note that LJ is still currently listed on the Oklahoma roster.
We will work to try to confirm this through another source but that is the information we have right now.
UPDATE (7:52 am): A second source has now told us that “he (LJ Moore) is no longer with the team for sure.” We will continue to try to find as many sources as possible to corroborate but that is two sources now saying he has indeed left the team.
71 Comments
Well that sucks. He could’ve helped this year.
Agreed.
I heard he had a serious girlfriend back in California as well, and, she was part of his homesickness as much as anything else.
If it’s not momma’s cooking, it’s always a girlfriend with the young college kids.
For music to go with this, listen to the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s piano sonata “Homesickness”.
The music sounds like a 19 year old pining for the adorable girlfriend. Even I can remember how that was, long ago.
That’s a shame, thought he might have an impact this season!!
Don’t know that I would say that. The coaches generally try and give kids every chance they can to make whatever they feel is the best decision. They won’t write him off, that’s just not their style. As K has said, they’ve been working to try and convince him to stay but it may be a situation where he just can’t be convinced.
I didn’t mean it that way! I meant, if LJ has a change of heart after say a month away from the program, I doubt Bob will let him back in (case in point Austin Haywood/TE). I am not knocking Bob for that but that’s just the way he works. Give him an option to come back, if he doesn’t take it, the door closes for good.
Fair enough.
I wouldn’t compare his situation to Haywood..Haywood was a cancer…LJ will be allowed back leading up to fall camp imo
I will say, I find it interesting that the coaches have tried hard to keep him. Not in the fact that they shouldn’t, because I like LJ and wish he would stay, but I find it interesting since we oversigned our 85 roster limit, so this tells me the coaches know what kids are going to be leaving the program later, or what new signees aren’t likely to make it in.
That’s a fair point. But they didn’t redshirt him last year (which I always felt was a waste, fwiw) b/c they expected him to contribute significantly this year. So for that reason alone, I think it makes sense why. They can almost always find a way to make the numbers work, but it goes w/o saying they’d prefer to do that while not losing someone as talented as Moore.
Sucks. Thought he had a chance to really contribute this year at a position where OU already didn’t have a ton of depth. But if he’s not happy in Norman then, IMO, you gotta let him go. Wish him well.
Was it homesickness, or does he feel like he’s being recruited over?
From what we’ve heard it’s the former. As far as I’m concerned, OU doesn’t have a ton of depth at CB currently so it’d be hard for me to say it was the latter. He was expected to be, at worst, a primary backup this year w/ an outside shot at winning that CB job opposite Sanchez.
That’s too bad. He was probably going to get a chance to contribute this year as well. But to echo Jordan, if he wasn’t happy, they have to let him go. Good luck to the young man.
This is just amazing. There’s nadda-nothing on the net about him leaving OU but Super K has it nailed. Gotta wish him well if he’s not happy. Coaches did the best they could. Good luck and God speed LJ.
Well guess I look forward to seeing Tito getting some PT cause we all know players get hurt
Hopefully this won’t have any negative impact on our recent success in recruiting California.
Who knows. In my opinion I doubt that it would have much of an effect. They still have guys like quick, mixon and Todd who may make huge impacts.
KJ Young, Bolton, Byrd and McNamara are other Cali kids who could come in and contribute. We shall see.
Would have been nice to see LJ and Hatari starting at CB and S. I didn’t really like what I saw from Cortez Johnson, so I thought it would have been a battle between Stanvon and LJ. Hopefully some freshmen are read to go incase of injury.
Not a good look for Michiah Quick, who is supposedly pretty close with LJ. I remember how excited LJ was to get on campus. Too bad….
He’s equally as close w/ Byrd and the G.A. Chip Viney
Really sad. He had a lot of friends on the team. Maybe he can go home over Spring break and re-think everything. Not sure how much class time you can miss. I wish him the best of luck.
Byrd is his cousin
That’s like a kick in the nuts on a Monday morning.
Lol Ray!!! Breathe, call your GF or wife, she can fix that:-)
That sounds horrible! I’ll say a little prayer for a quick recovery for you and yours! 🙂
Better then coffee.
What’s great about this site is you guys get info post it here anyone can read or comment on the news. Other guys get wind of a story and may not have many details at all and still try to sell you a subscription just to find out they’re still working on the story.
Oh and you guys were first as far as I can tell. Great work.
Free is a good thing.
Nobody can be right every single time, but you’ll never have to worry about paying for info here.
What Jordan said……….all of it.
It’s amazing how much good, honest info you can find on this site.I haven’t paid money to any of the sites, never will? I’ve got the TFB bunch. Besides it would cut down on my “happy hour” money.Thanks for the info whether it’s good or bad.
yup. This is a blue collar site on steroids. These guys know their stuff:-)
Its Crazy all the contacts they have for a free sight. They are all over every story and usually before the pay sites or mainstream media! Gotta Love TFB!
I know right? I searched Google, Yahoo and Bing…nadda. Super K and Jordan leavin ’em in the dust.
Was he on the Right or Left? From a depth chart standpoint, where would he have been? Thanks for the insight and keep up the GREAT work!
I think history has showed us we would rather have a kid that is less talented but dying to play for the Sooners than a Super Talented Guy that is home sick! I’m not slamming LJ at all if he doesn’t feel comfortable this far away from home then I wish him well! Would have been better at a position like receiver or something were we had a ton more depth but as Bob always says “Next Guy Up!” BOOMER!
Is Steven Parker up to challenging for back-up at safety?
Probably could have played either, but had worked at CB last year.
OU spokesman confirms “we don’t anticipate him (Moore) being with us this spring.”
Is it possible he could be reinstated for the summer? Or even the fall?
Possible, yes. Likely, no.
Could be a grade issue possibly. I vaguely remember we had a player a couple of years ago leave in the spring and come back during the summer and into the fall after taking some courses at a JC I believe. Anyone else remember that and who the player was?
He was at the sugar bowl so this sounds like a fairly recent development. I would think he still has 4 years of playing time available if he transfers. That being said, I hope he is able to return…
He will have to sit out a year to transfer. He played a little this year, but regardless of either his RS year was used this year on a technicality, or he can simply use it at the next program, he will be a RS sophomore for his new team
I remember him tweeting something about Norman being lame, I think. So take that FWIW.
Really?? I know he hates the Cold here but I don’t get the read that it’s a Norman thing. He misses home.
I don’t know, I just remember him tweeting something like that.
I read the OU coaches tweets but haven’t read the players tweets except for Mixon’s. It’s a shame. kid has some ability.
I think I know which one you are talking about. I went through his tweets today. He said something like “Oklahoma doesn’t care about us” referencing no warning about the last winter snow/ice storm to OBIE. I think he was at a point he wanted to be home so bad it wouldn’t have mattered where he was.
Yeah, I saw that tweet, as well. No doubt that he misses home, just thought the tweet I mentioned above was interesting. I can’t remember how long it’s been since I saw it, tho.
Has to be a home thing and nothing to do with Norman. I spent my first 18 years of life in Norman and graduated from Fresno State. Can’t imagine many places as “lame” as Fresno. He could easily sign with Fresno State.
Never positive to see this sort of thing, but I hope he gets to where he’s happy and can go after life whole heartedly.
And we have another schollie to play with. I wonder if there are any Juco DBs out there available?
I think we’ll be fine..I fig’d either Austin or Taylor to get the job anyway…It’s easier to get homesick when your not the starter…btwn Austin Taylor Johnson and Sanchez we have four guys that played at times last year when the game was still in question…add in the incoming guys and we’ll have quality depth…were talking dbs and Mike Stoops
I agree Shifty. As you probably recall from our discussions back when he was being recruited I was always hesitant about his ability as a corner.
I think he would have ended up being a decent nickel or dime if he bulked up some..he looked really thin but the reality of each year is every kid doesn’t pan out for one reason or another..he was behind two other guys in his class for a back up role last year…the coaches still wanted him so that says something..that said, I’d be more upset about losing Hatari or Thomas since we are thinner at safety
Okay. Great. Thanks for the info, but I’m going to wait and see what James Hale says…I kid. I kid.
Good job guys. Delivering value in the morning, delivering value in evening. All over this land.
I didn’t even hear Hale mention it this morning. Maybe someone from here should break the news to them 🙂
For what its worth Coach Viney and other coaches were worried that LJ wasn’t going to come back after the Sugar when all the players basically had almost two weeks off. LJ is a good kig but very homesick. No worries with Quick and Bryd at this point. This has been going on with LJ for awhile. He went from being in the rotation during camp/August to left out because of his production probably due to missing fam back in Cali. I feel for the kid and wish he would gut it out because he has rare athleticism He;s a gifted kid with track athleticism. talking about a 7 foot high jumper. Those don’t grow on trees. Ryan Broyels comes to mind clearing 7 as a Soph. Good luck LJ.
Stay positive Sooner fans about this. LJ and Hatari are tight and LJ is Quick’s best friend.
https://twitter.com/OU_CoachViney/status/422103743509700608
Pretty telling in my opinion. Players reported back on the 12th. Coach was excited that LJ showed back up wasn’t he?
J.K., looks like those tweets were from back in Jan. when they first became concerned about him leaving. Looks like he just made his decision to go back home just recently. Tell me if I’m reading that wrong.
Like I said in my post below LJ has been homesick for awhile. I heard the coaches were worried he wouldn’t show up for the second semester. I think his homesickness hurt his production on the field. He was in the hunt for some PT coming out of camp in August.
And look my sources are nothing compared to Super K’s. I’m familiar with some of the staff that recruits our area and some of the players. There was some concern with LJ and him missing Fresno for awhile.
Hate to hear that. LJ was a great track and field kid. Good cover kid, long bodied and can jump out of his shoes. Wish him the best. I hope he sticks with ball or T&F. Hate to see so much God given ability go to waste.
Hope he finds a place to use it also Sonny, it’s gonna leave us even younger in the back end.
I wish the young man the very best.
BTW, I hate the off season.
You and me both. Although this has been a good winter for the Sooners. They generally lose 5 – 10 kids. I think this team is close and are great attitude kids. You can tell just by their lack of off the field problems etc.. that these kids for the most part are TEAM first kids. Heck look no further the Blake Bell and the sacrifices he’s made for the TEAM. I’ll take 11 kids that have attitudes like Blake has shown this past year and win some ball games over teams with more talent.
I understand and appreciate your positive outlook.
From previous experiences and having been a young man, though, I hate the off season.