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Moore opts to become Battling Bishop
Shemar Moore
South Effingham cornerbacks coach Charles Dean (from left), South Effingham head coach Nathan Clark, Shemar Moore, South Effingham offensive coordinator Loren Purvis and South Effingham assistant head coach Mike Pfiester gather at Moore’s home for his May 19 signing ceremony. - photo by Photo submitted

GUYTON — The South Effingham football team is sending another one of its players to compete at the next level.

Defensive back Shemar Moore inked with North Carolina Wesleyan during a May 19 signing ceremony held at his home. 

Moore had a stellar senior season with the Mustangs, finishing  with 26 tackles, one interception and six pass break ups. He was All-Region 2-AAAAA honorable-mention pick who picked off a pass in the Georgia Elite All-Star Classic. He was also named the Mustangs’ Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week.

“I’m really happy for Shemar and his family,” South Effingham head coach Nathan Clark. “He’s an unbelievable kid and a great athlete. He’s extremely unselfish.

“We really needed him a lot more defensively than offensively. He’s an unselfish player and decided he would do what’s best for the team. He helped us returning kicks and helped us as a corner all year and can play a little safety.

“He has high character and anytime somebody decides they will do something unselfish for the team, that’s good.”

Moore entertained offers from Wofford and Methodist, among others. But Moore appreciated the North Carolina Wesleyan coaching staff taking so much interest in him as a student first and a player second.

“(I liked) the family orientated system,” Moore said. “The coaches care about the student more than the player. I felt at home the first day I stepped foot there.”

Moore said playing at South Effingham has prepared him what’s ahead.

“My experience was amazing because I had amazing coaches,” he said. “I had an amazing defensive backs coach that taught me a lot of things I didn’t learn at a young age but now coming into a new system, it’s a lot easier because the experience I had previously with my defensive coordinator.”

An ambitious player, Moore is looking forward to tackling his next challenge.

“(I’m looking forward to) the competitiveness,” Moore said. “I’m a very competitive person.”

Last season, a quartet of seniors made up a strong defensive unit for the Battling Bishops. RJ Smalls, Jeff Person and Isaiah Williams were ranked in the top 15 in the USA South Atlantic Conference for tackles.

North Carolina Wesleyan knows how to get things done defensively and Moore is looking forward to helping out in his first year with the team.

“It’s full steam ahead,” he said. “I’m going to learn and play at the same time.”

The Battling Bishops finished the 2019 season 6-4.