Photograph: Bryce Offord and Wesley Moore. Photograph by Bobby Ardoin
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Sometimes it’s all about feeling comfortable about where you spend the next four athletic career years and Bryce Offord and Wesley Moore are confident that they have discovered the most suitable destinations for the next stages of their football eligibility.
Offord, who has started at linebacker for three years at Northwest and Moore, an offensive tackle who also started three years for the Raiders, have both announced they have signed college football scholarships.
Moore said he plans to play at Henderson State in Hot Springs, Ark., while Offord has chosen to play at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville.
Northwest head football coach Chris Edwards said Offord played fullback and linebacker for the Raiders. Offord, who is 6-foot-2, was a second team District 4-3A selection and a member of the St. Landry Now All-Parish football team.
“Bryce started for us as a sophomore and then tore his ACL. I think what Louisiana Christian saw in Bryce is someone who has a great frame and plays with great intensity,” said Edwards.
Moore has almost exclusively played the tackle position for the Raiders. Like Offord Moore has been an all-district and all-parish selection.
Edwards said Moore was scrambling for a place to play college football after the February signing date.
“(Moore) thought he was going to sign with Gramblng all along. Grambling was supposed to offer (Moore), but they signed three other offensive linemen. We sent some film of Wes after that to the coaches at Henderson and they offered him right away. I think (Moore) fits right in with what they do there, since they believe in running the football. Henderson is a physical team and I think that will work out well for Wes,” Edwards said.
Offord said during an interview that he thinks he can make an impact with the Wildcats.
“Right now I think I will end up playing inside linebacker. I have always thought that I was going to go to a small school and they have given me this opportunity at a place where I think I will fit in,” Offord said.
LCU has several former St. Landry Parish athletes on the current football roster including former Opelousas High assistant coach Brandon Porter.
Included on the current roster of the school are Jon’Trayvion McGee (defensive back, Opelousas High), Jaheim Mitchell (defensive back, Eunice High), Jake Doucet (punter and place kicker, Beau Chene), Xavier Jackson (offensive lineman, Opelousas Catholic), Simeon Ardoin (wide receiver, Eunice High), Deon Ardoin (running back, Eunice High) and Jadon Etienne (offensive lineman, Opelousas High).
Moore said he also received scholarship offers from LCU and Mississippi College.
“What I really liked about Henderson State is the program is accustomed to winning and I want to go to a place that had that kind of attitude. I also really like the facilities that I saw at the school.
Moore said he will enter the Henderson program as a lineman that is 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds.
“By next year I hope to get my weight up to 260 pounds. By the time I finish playing I would like to weight 290 (pounds),” Moore said.
