Trip to NFL draft gives Licking Valley’s Moore taste of college experience
HANOVER — Licking Valley senior Brenden Moore attended the NFL draft last month. He hoped the trip to Kansas City, Missouri, would provide him a glimpse at his future, but not necessarily because he wants to someday play pro football.
Rather, Moore plans to attend Kent State as a sports management major and envisions a day when he might be on the business side of things.
And so it was that he traveled to KC with more than 30 of his future Kent State classmates — mostly upperclassmen.
“I felt like my maturity level was definitely up there with them," Moore said. "They accepted me in, surprisingly. I won’t lie. I was nervous they wouldn’t be as friendly with me, but they took me in. They gave me a bunch of information on how college would be, what to do and what not to do and are people I will appreciate for the rest of my life.”
Moore worked three long days, renting wheelchairs and motorized scooters to thousands of fans. He was within earshot of the festivities but hidden well behind the massive main stage.
That was all thanks to Kent State associate professor Aaron Mulrooney, who put Moore in touch with associate professor Mark Lyberger, knowing that Lyberger takes a group of students to the draft each year.
“(Mulrooney) saw how invested I am and how much I love the business aspect of sports,” Moore explained. “I had this whole interview process. (Lyberger) liked how I presented myself and how I handled things and how I could contribute. He said we would love to have you along.”
Moore is a starting outfielder for the Valley baseball team, but his dreams take him to the football field. A Cincinnati Bengals fan, Moore has interacted with the part of the organization’s management team that runs their new practice facility.
And during his weekend away, he continued networking, meeting an executive with the Kansas City Royals.
“We didn’t really mind the long hours that came out of it because we were so enthusiastic about the whole opportunity to be around these amazing people to work with,” Moore said. “It was definitely an awesome experience.”
Moore’s immediate focus is on graduating from Valley and finishing out what the Panthers' baseball team hopes is a long run in the Division II tournament.
Moore at least now will have a sense of comfort when he reaches Kent State's campus in August. Doors already have been cracked open.
“It would have been definitely a nervous thing to do,” Moore said. “Meeting these people, it definitely gives you a different insight coming in as a freshman in college. It’s just those subtle things, and I am so grateful. I would have made some mistakes.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: NFL draft gives Licking Valley’s Brenden Moore taste of college
