- Indiana
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: Indiana football recruiting notebook (linemen edition) — Moore makes his way to IU, Livingston leaps to WVU
Lining up for scholarships
Two of the best offensive linemen in Hoosierland found homes at the next level this month, as Ft. Wayne Snider senior guard Demon “D.J.” Moore committed to Indiana and Leo senior offensive tackle Landen Livingston committed to West Virginia. Both Moore and Livingston display exceptional footwork, versatility and technique.
Moore (6-foot-5, 330) chose IU over Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Arizona State, Minnesota and Nebraska. He took his official visits to IU and Purdue last month. For the Hoosiers Class of ’22, Moore is the twelfth commit to the class and third pledge from within the state’s prep ranks, following in the footsteps of Lawrence North wide receiver Omar Cooper and Bloomington South linebacker Dasan McCullough.
Livingston (6-5, 285) selected the WVU Mountaineers of the Big 12 over finalists IU, Purdue, Iowa and Cincinnati. His recruitment exploded last spring when IU, Purdue and Michigan State all came in with offers in the same 48 hours.
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Strickland heads to West Lafayette
With 21 offers to pick from, Indianapolis Brebeuf four-star senior defensive end Joe Strickland named his Top 3 finalists on July 10, with Indiana, Purdue and Stanford all making the cut. Twelve days later, he announced he was staying in-state, picking the Boilermakers.
Strickland is considered the No. 5 best overall player in the state and the state’s top pass rushing prospect. Last fall, he recorded 50 tackles and six sacks.
Strickland is player No. 14 in Purdue’s class of 2022, and the second-highest rated player, just a shade behind Gibson Southern quarterback Brady Allen on the 247Sports Composite ranking. Fort Wayne Snider linebacker Domanick Moon is the only other in-state prospect in the class.
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The Ivy experience
Indianapolis Cathedral senior offensive lineman Cooper Koers committed to Princeton earlier this month. Fellow Ivy Leaguers Yale and Columbia were also in the hunt for Koers’ services. Koers (6-6, 275) anchored a line that was quite dominant in the 2020 season and helped Cathedral capture a state 5A championship.
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Name to know in the trenches RIGHT NOW:
Grant Ray (Roncalli 6-3, 300 OL) — Probably the most underrated lineman in the Circle City, the Get-er-done type 24/7, this kid is all heart, soul, grit and gusto.
