Lamontez Moye: Football means the world to me! Growing up being the youngest of 4 brothers, you have to find something your good at. When I made my first tackle in a little league game, I knew this was what I wanted to do.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories of Leon High School?
Lamontez Moye: My fondest memories of Leon were the pep rallies and after school activities right before practice.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Northland C & T College?
Lamontez Moye: I chose Northland at the time because they gave me an opportunity at my dream again. No schools or coaches wanted to take me, being that I Didn’t have high school film from my senior year and didn’t play 3 years prior. Surprisingly, Coach Francis heard about me from a source that watched me workout and he took a chance on me. I’ll forever love and respect him for that as well.
Joe Gaiter: What is your role on the team?
Lamontez Moye: I’m transferring to ITASCA Community College this year. My role will be to step up and make plays my sophomore year. Get more productivity and film as a defensive back and not just as a cornerback . I also have to lead the DB group this year being that I’m a sophomore.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Lamontez Moye: My untold story is I never played a down of Varsity high school football. Due to personal situations out of my control, I moved with my mother 10 times out of my 4 years in high school. I went to five different high schools in Tallahassee including an alternative school. Up until spring football in 2015, I had a 1.5 GPA throughout my whole time in high school. Once I transferred to Leon, I got my grades right and eventually boosted my GPA to a 3.0. However, 2 weeks before my senior season I broke my ankle completely. I was out the whole season.
Joe Gaiter: What can we expect from you next season?
Lamontez Moye: Next season you can definitely expect more interceptions. That’s my focus. TURNOVERS!
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about the struggles that JUCO athletes go through.
Lamontez Moye: The JuCo struggle is tough, NOTHING is handed to you! You’re not in these big cities with other colleges. You’re in the middle of nowhere eating off of food stamps and your friends. It’s no real meal plans. And the scholarships are NOT scholarships. That’s all social media. Some may face depression sometimes like myself. Once you find the fun in the experience and make the best of it, it’s amazing.
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel like JUCO colleges get the proper credit and acknowledgment as they should?
Lamontez Moye: I feel like you can get proper credentials on your own. It’s all about how you publicize yourself and your craft. Fame and acknowledgments will come if you work hard.
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation on the field?
Lamontez Moye: My motivation on the field is my best friend LaRon who passed away in 2017. We faced the same problems growing up. From sharing clothes to telling each other our deepest darkest secrets. He loved football too and we used to talk about our NFL dreams everyday. I know every time I buckle my chin strap, I’m not just playing for me. You see LaMontez and LaRon. He lives through me.
Joe Gaiter: What is your relationship like with the coaching staff?
Lamontez Moye: My relationship with the coaching staff is awesome. It’s nothing like having a coaching staff you can talk to as well as play football for them. My coaches are great outlets for me when I’m down mentally or emotionally.
Joe Gaiter: Where are you training during the off-season?
Lamontez Moye: I’m doing my off season training home in Tallahassee, Florida.
Joe Gaiter: What is one quote that you live by?
Lamontez Moye: “Keep going”.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience.
Lamontez Moye: My recruitment experience has been pretty good lately! Holding offers from Tuskegee and Upper Iowa University as of now. I also have been in contact with a couple more HBCUs.
Joe Gaiter: Who are some athletes we need to keep on our radar?
Lamontez Moye: Jaeden Hicks, Marcus Riley, Marquel Pittman, Chris Brimm, Tavyn Jackson, and Chad Hunter.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Lamontez Moye: I want my legacy to be known as simple as this, I want people who know me and really know me and my life to look at me and say I never gave up, everything I do is genuine and with passion, and no matter what I always tried to live out Laron name in the best way I can.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
Lamontez Moye: My major is psychology right now and I plan on using it to help others who suffer from social anxiety like myself. It’s a lot of times we have problems as a young black man that we’re taught not to speak on or express, these things tend to make us scared of society and being way too self-conscious of ourselves. I want to help people free their mind when I learn to free mine.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets?
Lamontez Moye: I have no regrets in life. Everything I ever did or been through made me the man I am today.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Lamontez Moye: Don’t let nothing that hurt you, break you. I been through so much in my 22 years of life. Heartbreak, death, violence, depression, and anxiety till this day but don’t let it define you. Embrace pain, because pain turns into desire when put into a positive connotation. It’s been many times I’d have no where to eat or sleep and just angry with life, but life will change around you when you decide to change. Changing is not an overnight process either. You really have to commit to yourself and love your path in this life. Look at everything and simply embrace it.
Joe Gaiter: Shout outs?
Lamontez Moye: Shoutout to my teammates, my brothers, my friends that always have my back when I need them. My beautiful mother and all the amazing women in my family. Including “Ma”.
Twitter: @_duckedoffmoye
Instagram: @Mak10Moye
Lamontez Moye, Northland C & T, Interview with Joe Gaiter was last modified: May 11th, 2020 by Joseph Gaiter