Plainfield North's Marcellus Moore trying to zero in on college decision

For a young man who is personified by his incredible speed, Marcellus Moore is taking his time with one of the most important decisions he’ll make.

The heavily recruited speedster, who is coveted for his abilities as a football player and as a track athlete, hopes to make his college decision before he begins his senior athletic season at Plainfield North, but admits he’s been wrestling with the choice for quite some time.

“I’m hoping to decide where I’m going to go by the beginning of this football season,” Moore said. “That’s pretty much where I am at, timeframe-wise.”

Moore fully intends to compete in both football and track and field at the next level, and while he visited a large number of schools to try to get a feel for what might be the best fit, one thing was nonnegotiable when he paired down his list of potential schools.

If the school insisted that they expected Moore to specialize in one sport or the other, they wouldn’t be considered for his final choice.

“That’s absolutely one of the biggest priorities for me, to have a place where I can feel comfortable doing both track and football,” Moore said. “All of the schools that are in my Top 7 are schools that are going to allow me to do both. Some schools that have recruited me in the past have said I can’t do track and do football. Those schools aren’t on my list.”

Currently, Moore has landed on seven schools as finalists for his services: Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and Purdue.

And before you read too deeply into the order of how those schools are listed (it’s alphabetical) Moore insists all seven still are very much in the running for his final choice.

Being a two-sport student at the collegiate level is a daunting pursuit, but Moore admits he has a hard time confining himself to only one area of competition.

“I love competing,” Moore said. “I just hope to be able to do both things as long as I can.”

Moore won both the Class 3A 100- and 200-meter dash events at the state meet in late May. Moore finished the 200 meters in dramatic fashion, as a hamstring tightened down the stretch. Moore powered through to win, collecting his sixth gold medal at the state meet in the process.

“I just wanted to finish that race and come out with the ‘W,’ ” Moore said. “It meant a lot to me. I went through a lot of pain, but I just had to push through it.”

Moore has been rehabiltating the injury and claims he’s 100 percent ready to go full out. And just in the nick of time, as Moore is set to compete in the U.S. Track and Field Under 20 Championships in Miramar, Florida, from June 21 to 23.

“It’s a lot better now,” Moore said of the hamstring.

If Moore qualifies from those championships, he’ll earn a bid to the 2019 Pan American U-20 Athletic Championships to be held in San Jose, Costa Rica, from July 19 to 21.

Moore has experience with international meets, having participated in a meet in Iceland last summer.

In between, Moore is wedging in work with the Plainfield North football team during team camp. The Tigers will be led by a new coach this season in Anthony Imbordino, and while Moore is realizing that his football experience will have some change for his senior season, he’s embracing the new era with open arms.

Moore has moved around the field for Plainfield North in previous seasons trying to find the best fit for his explosive speed. He readily admits he’s more comfortable in the slot, but is more than willing to provide his services to wherever the team needs him to go.

“There is definitely going to be some changes, and I think it will be a different year for us,” Moore said. “I see my role as a senior being a leader on the team and to contribute to the team in whatever way I can.”