(This is the 12th in a series of preseason stories on new high school football coaches, or veteran coaches at a different school, and top players in the Chattanooga area)
It’s hard to
ignore Harrison Moon when he walks into a room.
He’s quite
an imposing figure as the Signal Mountain senior stands 6-6 and weighs 285
pounds. There’s not an ounce of fat on
his body anywhere.
He’s made
quite a name for himself as a prep football player and he earned All-State
honors for the Eagles a year ago when his team had an 8-4 record, won District
7-AA for the second-straight year and advanced to the second round of the TSSAA
playoffs.
It’s real
obvious that the future is bright in football for the youngest son of Rae and
Mike Moon. One coach recently compared
him to John Hannah, who earned All-America honors at Baylor and Alabama before
a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.
He’s already
committed to play in the Southeastern Conference with the Mississippi State
Bulldogs after having a host of offers from big-time football programs,
including Michigan, Alabama, Purdue, Duke, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss
and Florida among others.
Moon saw his
first action for the Eagles as a freshman where he started as a tight end. No doubt opposing defenders are happy they
won’t have to tackle him, but they are also probably losing sleep trying to
figure out a way around him.
“He’s been
around for a long time and he’s an outstanding blocker,” said Signal Mountain
head coach Bill Price when asked about his prized lineman.
“It’s hard
to find big, athletic linemen, but he fits the bill and his future will be on
the offensive line. He’s so long. He played some at defensive end last year and
he’s good at both spots, but we’ll use him primarily on the offensive line as
we like having a big kid at tackle who is quick and strong.
“Harrison
wants to do what’s best for the team, but he’s worked really hard to improve
his skills. We always want to have a
successful season, but if he plays up to his potential and those around him do
too, we’ll have a great year,” Price smiled.
Moon is a
handsome young man who has an easy smile and is a true gentleman in every since
of the word. His whole demeanor changes
when he straps on the shoulder pads and snaps the chinstrap on his helmet.
“He’s a
player who is one of the best I’ve ever seen and I’ve been around some good
ones,” said Ernie McCarson, Signal Mountain’s line coach.
“He’s got
size and he’s exceptionally quick. He’s
pretty vicious and he’s developed a mean streak. He’s been to a lot of camps and has made
himself better, but he’ll do well at Mississippi State.
“I just wish
I had about six more like him,” the veteran coach smiled.
About that
time, Moon came strolling into the coaches office wearing a Mississippi State
football T-shirt and a smile on his face.
“It’s going
to be a great year as we want to win another state championship. We expect greatness up here,” he said with a
straight face.
“I’m really
exciting about going to Mississippi State as their program was all I was
looking for. It’s a weight off my
shoulders to get that decision made so I can concentrate on my final year
here. It’s weird to think that this is
my last year up here.
“I want to
slow the clock down a little bit, but I’m also ready for the next level. Football is my passion and I’ve been playing
since the first grade.
“I was
fortunate to start at tight end as a freshman, but playing on the offensive
line is more natural for me than catching the ball. Absolutely nothing beats a good pancake
block,” he said.
“I feel like
I have a good work ethic and I’m quicker than most linemen, so that gives me an
advantage,” he stated.
Moon says
that he wants to study either Broadcast Communication or Graphic Design at
Mississippi State, but he ultimately wants to make his money playing football
on Sunday afternoons in the NFL.
The sky’s
the limit for this young man and it all starts with his senior year at Signal
Mountain.
Tuesday: Baylor’s Nick Tiano and Ryan Parker.
(email John
Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)