Athlete Spotlight: Foster Moore

If Foster Moore wasn't so busy playing for the Harlem High School football team, he would make a great DJ.

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After all, when Moore is taking care of business on the gridiron, the hits keep coming.

The senior plays both ways for the Bulldogs, but there's a simple reason why Moore prefers his defensive-end position to the offensive-guard slot.

"I like defense a little bit more, because it involves more hitting," he said.

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Moore plays three sports at Harlem, but football is his favorite. There's no need to wonder why. "You get to hit, basically," he explained.

Harlem High School's Foster Moore

Photo by Jim Blaylock

Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis has the same spin on Moore.

"He's a hitter," Lewis says. "He's aggressive, and he can turn it up a notch."

Moore has been starting for the Dogs since his sophomore season, and this year, he's taken the role of senior leader to heart.

"Foster has been out there busting his rear end. He's a leader out on the field," Lewis said. " He came on strong for us toward the end of last year. He's worked real hard in the weight room, and he's bigger and stronger this year. We're looking for big things out of him, and he needs to live up to that billing."

Moore is working hard to meet those expectations, but he's doing it for the good of the team, not for the glory.

"I'm not really looking for all the publicity," he said. "Offensive linemen are the last ones to get applause or recognition for what they do. I feel blessed just to get the opportunity to play. You take the good with the bad and just do all you can do."

Don't let the humble attitude fool you. Moore plans to play collegiately, and to achieve that goal, there is no time to coast.

"We do extra running at practice, and I try to push myself with it," he said. "There's always somebody out there better than you are. You have to work hard and dedicate yourself to it."

In his free time, Moore applies himself to school work, or if he's not cracking the books, he's lifting weights to help chisel his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame.

Speed is his main weapon on the field, and if Moore has his way this season, Harlem will go full-speed ahead into the state playoffs.

"If we work as a team, we'll be all right," he said. "We'll surprise some people."