Richard Moore
Perhaps the most surprising of these announcements came from Richard Moore. The linebacker position got some much-needed reinforcements this offseason, but Moore was never really in trouble to lose playing time.
Since coming to Texas A&M from Cedar Hill High School, Moore has played important minutes and has made significant plays. He drew several starts during his freshman season. In his first two years he totaled 68 tackles, two sacks, and two pass break ups.
Moore would have probably fallen behind freshman Anthony Hines on the depth chart. Second string linebackers still see a lot of playing time, especially in the grind of the SEC season. His departure will force other young players like Santino Marchiol, Dwaine Thomas and Tyrel Dodson to step up next season.
Former Cedar Hill LB Richard Moore is returning to the DFW area. SMU's previous staff also offered him out of high school. https://t.co/HpLXrrQ6Yg
— Patrick Engel (@PatrickEngel_) May 17, 2017
Verdict: Major impact
The Aggies couldn’t afford to lose any linebackers this offseason. The unit was undermanned last year. Injuries and the impacts of a long season began to show as opposing running backs waltzed through the front seven all November.
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Shaan Washington and Claude George have both moved on to the NFL. That’s three linebackers that played significant roles on last year’s club that won’t be in College Station next year. A lot of young guys are going to have to play significant minutes and the depth isn’t quite there. This year’s group is more talented, but it isn’t much deeper.
***Stats from Sports Reference, 12thman.com, and 247 Sports***