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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 59 when he was about 7, playing touch, then flag, then tack- le. He was 10 when he met Chris Vaughn, the owner of Aspirational Fitness Institution in Louisville, and the two have been linked ever since. Vaughn, along with Ricketts and others in the tight-knit family came up to Purdue for Moore's official visit in December, right before Moore committed to the Boilermakers. Vaughn knows athletes. Over the years, he has trained upward of 90 who have gone on to accept Division I scholarships, including 17 this season. Moore's athleticism stood out, of course, but so did his drive. "He's a kid who, once you teach him something, he's going to make it his duty to study that, learn the skill set, study the film and work on it," Vaughn said, "and that will separate him from other guys who just have the athletic ability." That was tested during Moore's junior season, when he was forced to sit out the regular season due to trans- fer rules. Moore had spent his freshman and sophomore years at New Albany High School just across the Ohio Riv- er, where he played both football and basketball, before fo- cusing only on football after transferring to Trinity. But he couldn't play immediately for the Rocks. Instead, he could only train. So he did, running routes every day — and perfecting the agility and quick cuts that are now hallmarks of his per- formance — and lifting four days a week. Eligible during the playoffs as a junior, Moore showed off his potential, then capitalized on it as a senior. In 2017, he caught 109 passes for 1,478 yards with 16 touchdowns, plus another 537 rushing yards. "That's a testament to what kind of kid he is," Vaughn said. "He literally sat out, went from being an all-state play- er at the school he attended, to sitting the whole entire season then didn't play 'til the second round of the playoffs. And still, he was able to come in and be a difference-mak- er, wasn't able to play with the team or anything. "(He had) the ability and the mindset to be able to con- tinue working out and making himself into the player he was so that he was ready when he got his opportunity, and he made the most of it." Moore will find plenty of opportunity at Purdue, as will just about any underclassman wide receiver. The Boiler- makers return their top receiver, in terms of catches, from last season in Jackson Anthrop, but see the departure of seniors Anthony Mahoungou and Gregory Phillips. It's a wide-open field for snaps, but Moore will certainly have an edge in earning a spot. "I feel like I'll be used in the backfield, out wide and in the slot," Moore said. "In Purdue's offense, I can see my- self succeeding." Moore is one of four receivers in the '18 class, with Amad Anderson Jr., who is already enrolled and will partic- ipate in spring practices, Jordan Bonner and Kory Taylor. It wouldn't be a shock if three or four saw playing time in 2018. "I just think the speed that we have is what's going to separate us," said Taylor, a 6-5, 200-pound wideout from Ohio. "The quicker guys inside, like Rondale, I mean, his speed is insane. It's going to be a good group." Moore could be the standout, taking advantage of a fit between his skill set, snap availability, Purdue's offense and Brohm's creativity. "He knows what he wants to do, has a plan and has a good blueprint," said Trinity coach Bob Beatty, who guided the Rocks to the Kentucky 6A title this season, the school's record 25th championship. "I'm excited about him going to Purdue. I usually never get in the mix with these things; all I tell them is that you have to go where the fit is. You have to go somewhere that understands how to use your type of athleticism. Some schools don't like small slots. I think it's our job as a coaching staff to find out what he does, because obviously he's special, then let him go do it. I know that Jeff Brohm is very, very capable of that — he's shown that — and he's able to adjust and fit around great athletes, and I think that young man is a great athlete." j