At the height of Benoit native Martavis Moore football career, he had interest from several different NFL teams after completing his collegiate days at Mississippi Delta Community College and the University of Central Arkansas.
“During my pro day, I tried out for about 15 teams including the Miami Dolphins,” Moore said. “I ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, but they told me that I was undersized and that my hands were too small. Another thing that I think hindered me was the fact that I didn’t have an agent”
Had Moore listened to the people who only judged a player by size, he wouldn’t have gotten as far as he did.
At five eight and 200 pounds, he has heard that he was too small his entire life. But, what couldn’t be measured is the drive and intensity that burned inside this former Ray Brooks star who played quarterback, defensive back, running back and receiver during a stellar prep career.
“When I was growing up, we played a lot of sand lot football,” he said. “I never played Pop Warner. When they told me that I was too little as a kid, I would make shoulder pads out of milk boxes and practice in my backyard. I also made a championship trophy out of a chili bucket. I also took great pride in squatting. I maxed out at over 700 pounds. My teammate, Derrick Mitchell would call me superstar and A.J. Green.”
Despite all the doubters, Moore knew that by the time he was approaching high school graduation that he had a real talent on the gridiron.
He got serious about his studies and earned a scholarship to MDCC and in his first game as a collegiate made a pick six against Dillon Favre of Pearl River Community College.
Moore went on to play two years at the University of Central Arkansas where he majored in family and consumer science.
Now as a Washington County Sheriff Deputy and a father, he is still living one of his three dreams with all three still within reach.
“When I was younger, I said that I wanted to be a police officer, play professional football or go to the military,” he said.
“I still haven’t made up my mind about the military. I still think about the NFL, but now as the father of three, that would take a big investment. I appreciate what I do now because it gives me the opportunity to take care of my family.”
Moore has kept his football dream alive, however.
Today Moore plays and leads the Greenville Grizzlies which is part of a seven-team league with teams in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Late winter and early spring are times when the team gets itself in condition for league play which starts March 21.
By the second Saturday in March, the Grizzlies had already completed their fourth practice. Moore, the team’s quarterback reviewed plays on his I phone in each huddle before working on deep routes with his receivers.
“Guys always go back and forth when they try to decide if they want to play or not,” Moore said.
