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Marietta’s Devon Moss to play football for Pioneers

JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times Marietta High’s Devon Moss committed to playing college football at Marietta College Thursday at Sutton Gymnasium. From left to right, Moss was joined in the ceremony by Garic Warner (MHS assistant football coach), Aaron Blavos (stepfather), Maeci Blavos (sister), Raygann Moss (sister), Kyler Moss (brother), Lisa Blavos (mother) and Jason Schob (MHS head football coach).

Listed at 5-feet, 6-inches, Devon Moss has never been the biggest kid on the football field.

However, that’s never stopped him from making plays. The Marietta High senior led the Tigers in tackles in 2017 on the way to a 5-5 season and the program’s first ever East Central Ohio League win. And even though he’s graduating from MHS, he won’t be going to far as he’s decided to continue his football career at Marietta College.

“It was a tough decision,” Moss said. “(Marietta College football) coach (Andy) Waddle came to the high school and talked to a couple of the seniors. I had a couple other schools looking at me too, and I thought the best decision was to stay here in town and play in front of my home fans.”

Moss is the second Tiger from the 2018 class headed to MC. Running back Dominic Vanfossen committed to the Pioneers earlier this year.

“It’s really nice, especially when they’re going so close to home and we’re able to go watch them at the next level,” said Marietta High football coach Jason Schob.

Moss said he’s most likely to play at linebacker and on special teams at Marietta College. As a junior at MHS, Moss played defensive end before moving to outside linebacker as a senior and leading the team in tackles.

“He overcame so many things,” Schob said.

“He’d never played (outside linebacker) before but he ended up being our leading tackler. It’s just due to his work ethic and his coachability and I think he’s going to translate to the next level and be successful there, too.”

And don’t let Moss’s height fool you — he packs a punch on the gridiron.

“I’ve put a lot of time in the weight room,” he said. “I mean, I’m stronger than most of the kids on the football team, period, here at the high school. My size has definitely been a factor, but it’s not that bad.”

Moss, who also plays baseball for the Tigers, is planning to major in human communications. He was a part of the first class Schob coached all four years at Marietta.

“He was a big leader for us,” said Schob, who has guided Marietta to a 5-5 record each of the last three years. “He was in the first class I coached all the way through, which is exciting. I taught Devon in fifth grade P.E. class and I got to coach him all four years of high school football. It’s hard losing this class.”

Moss said Schob played a big role in helping him become the player and person he is now.

“Coach Schob has taken over the program and he’s done a great job,” Moss said. “He’s made me the man I am today.”

Moss will join Vanfossen and linebacker Garrett Davis as the only ex-Tigers on Marietta College’s football roster next year. The Pioneers are coming off their best season under Waddle in which they went 6-4 and won five Ohio Athletic Conference games.

For Moss, becoming a college football player is a dream come true.

“I never thought I was going to play a college sport to be honest with you,” he said. “Everyone told me I was never going to be big enough to play a college sport. So I’m excited and very humbled.”

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