Transfer linebacker Dimitri Moore reunites with Joey McGuire
On the day before Thanksgiving, the Texas Tech coaches were thankful for the transfer portal. The Red Raiders had themselves a two-commit day, and both were transfers. Earlier in the day reports surfaced that former Texas safety Tyler Owens was headed to Lubbock.
Later on in the day came even more good news, when Missouri State linebacker Dimitri Moore announced his decision to play his final season of college football in Lubbock.
What you need to know...
... Moore played his high school football at Cedar Hill under Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire.
... Moore signed with Vanderbilt out of high school as a part of the 2017 class. He redshirted his first season before playing a significant amount of snaps in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
... In three seasons as a Commodore, Moore was credited with 219 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team following the 2018 season.
... Prior to the 2021 season, Moore decided to leave Nashville and went to play for Bobby Petrino at Missouri State.
... Moore is the older brother of Cedar Hill defensive back and Texas Tech commit Jalon Peoples.
Relationship with Joey McGuire: "I've always been close with coach McGuire. It really started since middle school and even before that, my oldest brother Herman played for him and was on the state championship team back in 2006. My other older brother Richard, he was on the 2013 and 2014 teams with me that won state.
So really, even before I got to middle school we had a family relationship with him because he coached all of my brothers. I trusted him in high school and I trust that he'll be a good coach for me in college to finish out my college career."
Why Texas Tech: "Going back home, that was one of the biggest things. I really felt like it would be the best thing for me to be closer to home to finish out my last year and I think it'll all make sense. My family is here, my mom will be able to come to my games and whatnot. It also doesn't hurt that coach McGuire will be there and my little brother Jalon Peoples is committed there so it'll be fun to be around people that I know, people that I love and trust."
How he fits in on defense: "I think that I'm a more naturally gifted inside linebacker but I got moved to the SAM linebacker, which is basically an outside linebacker, I got moved there at Missouri State for a couple games. Playing the SAM, I actually forced a fumble and recovered another fumble that helped us come back and win the game vs North Dakota. That was a really important game for us because we needed to win that game in order to qualify for the playoffs, which now Missouri State is in the playoffs.
So that was one of my biggest games ever and I was playing SAM linebacker, so I think I can move around to any position that's needed, but I feel like my strongest instinct and God-given ability is at inside linebacker."