Walk-on QB Moore ready to do what it takes to make impact with Mountaineers

Transferring from a Division II school to a top-tier football program that has won three BCS bowl games in the last decade can be intimidating.

For redshirt junior Fairmont State transfer Logan Moore, this was the case. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound quarterback has been overlooked with the attention junior Paul Millard and redshirt freshman Ford Childress have received.

"Once I made my mind up to transfer, I got a hold of Coach (Jake) Spavital and talked to him about it. He said he’d like to have me, so I was pretty much an invited walk-on to come in here at the start of camp," Moore said.

While every football player likes to play and get time on the field, West Virginia may not give Moore an immediate opportunity, but he has time to improve with guys like Millard and Childress as role models.

"This whole offseason I just worked as hard as I could," Moore said. "(I was) just trying to learn as much as I could from Paul and Ford and just picking up as many things as I could. Coming into the spring, I didn’t know if I would get a shot or not."

While Moore also said he has enjoyed some time as a slot receiver in the early portion of spring football, he believes he can be a key part of the offensive unit, if given the opportunity.

"This offseason I feel like I’m part of the team," he said. "If I keep working hard and improving on everything, I think I’ll get a shot somewhere."

Moore said he has improved tremendously in his game, but getting used to the tempo and speed of this level of competition, especially in Big 12 Conference play, could be difficult.

"I’ve improved on a lot of things I think," Moore said. "Just getting a feel for the game, tempo and this speed of the Division I level. I think my arm’s getting stronger, but I have to credit that to the weight program and everything up here."

The Fairmont State transfer said he misses the people from his old institution, but West Virginia could give him opportunities that are hard to come by.

"Right now Paul and Ford are getting most of the reps," Moore said. "I’ve been getting a lot of the reps at slot when we do team situations. I don’t know if I’ll get an opportunity, but I’ll be ready when it comes. That’s fine with me – I told them when I transferred up here I would do anything to get on the field."

In fall 2012, Moore studied one of the best to ever grace Milan Puskar Stadium in former quarterback Geno Smith. Every time there were quarterback drills, Moore would get a feel of what Smith would do and how he was able to excel in all stages of the game. Now, Moore plans to mirror what Paul and Ford do in practice.

While Moore may not get an opportunity to become a Mountaineer great right away, when and if his time eventually comes, he will be ready to shine.