2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Aliquippa’s Larry Moon III

By: Amani Clark-Bey
Thursday, July 18, 2024 | 3:23 PM

Aliquippa cornerback Larry Moon III’s stock continues to rise through the offseason.

Moon is coming off a strong freshman season at Central Catholic that turned many heads across the WPIAL. His last game at Central Catholic was a loss in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game to North Allegheny. Moon is prepared to rewrite his ending.

Moon is returning home to play this season at Aliquippa, where his family resides. His return to the historic powerhouse increases the odds of bringing back another state title.

“I’m excited for him, and I know he is excited to be back,” Mike Warfield said before announcing he was taking a leave of absence as Aliquippa coach. Assistant coach Vashawn Patrick will serve as interim head coach. “I’m looking for him to be a solid addition to the other players that we have.”

Warfield watched Moon grow up, as they live five doors from each other.

Warfield has known him his entire life and is excited to see what Moon can bring to the Quips this season.

Moon received his first scholarship offer before playing a single snap in high school. He was a rising freshman who displayed huge talent at his first camp at Pitt. Moon said his first offer was special.

“The day I got my first offer was Father’s Day,” Moon said. “It was my first camp, so I thought that I should go to get my name out there. I wasn’t expecting to land an offer that day.”

Pitt’s coaching staff had its eyes on Moon during warm-ups. He put on an impressive performance at camp, drawing attention from coach Pat Narduzzi.

“Coaches said that Coach Narduzzi wanted to meet me,” Moon said. “We met and had a great conversation. That’s when he told me I had a scholarship. Ever since then, it has been nonstop work.”

Moon is entering his sophomore season with 35 Division I offers on the table.

“My recruitment blew up (this offseason) with all the hard work I put in.” Moon said. “I’ve just been working.”

Pretty much every school in the country is calling for the 5-foot-11 corner.

“He’s another kid we can count on on the defensive side that’s a solid corner,” Warfield said. “He is someone you can rely on to hold his side of the field down for the pass game and run support.”

Moon is an aggressive downhill corner with a strong pursuit to the ball who shows great patience while letting the play develop in front of him.

“He is dynamic for his age. To have that type of skill set that he has, you don’t see that too often.” Warfield said. “We have a system that may be different from his team last year. Once he buys in, everything will be fine.”

Moon is a ballhawk that any defensive coordinator can line up in any coverage. His twitchy hips allow him to get in and out of breaks fluidly on the pass and play outside contain to help stop the run.

Moon described his game as physical, technical and fast.

“I think I’m the No. 1 corner in the nation,” Moon said. “Being the No. 1 corner in the nation, you have to mark down all the boxes.

“You have to be everything. You can’t just be a cover guy. You have to be able to come up and be physical. You can’t be physical without being able to cover somebody.”

Moon has great expectations leading into his sophomore season.

“I expect to bring us a state championship. That’s the mindset.” Moon said. “We just have to work as a team. Everyone wants to see us lose, but we Quips and that’s what it’s going to be.”

Larry Moon III

Aliquippa

Sophomore

5-foot-11/180 pounds

Cornerback/wide receiver

Division I offers: West Virginia, Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Pitt, Akron, Miami (Fla.), South Carolina, Nebraska, Tennessee, UNLV, Troy, Miami (Ohio), Syracuse, Southern Cal, UCF, Kentucky, North Carolina, LSU, Michigan, UConn, Ohio, Minnesota, San Jose State, Kansas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Oregon, Auburn, Alabama, Colorado State, Ole Miss

2023 statistics: 32 total tackles, 24 solo tackles

Tags: Aliquippa