The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE / JULY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 47 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Mind Sound Body sponsors teams from the youth division all the way up to the high school level, and it takes kids across the country to compete in the best tournaments nationally. Appropriately named Maximum Ex- posure — or Max Ex for short — the 7-on-7 component of the organiza- tion travels by bus and stops at several schools along the way to events. This year alone, players have been able to see Miami, Georgia Tech and Maryland, among others. The trips not only provide exposure but also allow Detroit kids to compete against top players from the Southeast and the DMV (Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), as well as other regions. "I think Sound Mind Sound Body has benefited our family in an amazing way," said Erika Morgan, mother of Michi- gan 2023 wide receiver commit Semaj Morgan. "Coach Blackwell and every- body here does an amazing job with the program. They not only help you grow as an athlete, but they also minister to the mind. They talk to the boys, help them with the mental state and help them with academics. It's more than just athletics. "Sound Mind Sound Body also helps them go everywhere. Not only do they compete in the Midwest, but they also go down south and around the country. A lot of kids in the inner city don't get the opportunity to get out of Detroit. And a lot of kids have received schol- arships because of Sound Mind Sound Body." At the end of the day, earning schol- arships is the primary reason most kids participate in Sound Mind Sound Body. But once the offers come, the competi- tion doesn't stop. Every player had their own motiva- tion for boarding the bus on that frosty February morning. Dante Moore THE FACE OF DETROIT Dante Moore was the first person on the bus. Little did he know he would be stuck with a bunch of rowdy middle schoolers for the entire journey to Ten- nessee. As soon as he sat in his seat, Moore put on a hoodie, hiding his signature big hair, and tried to go to sleep. Nobody really knew Moore was on the youth bus until it stopped at Eastern Kentucky. That's when the infectious smile and magnetic personality came out. Moore took down opponent after op- ponent at ping-pong at the EKU foot- ball facility — well, except for the guy writing the story — played some basket- ball at the student gym and ate plenty of food at the cafeteria. Moore likes to keep his guard up in front of the media, but he's just a big, goofy 16-year-old kid that everybody loves to be around. The dude still loves apple juice and even hides bottles of it behind the bench. "Ap p l e j u i ce i s so m e t h i n g t h a t touches my comfort," Moore said. "I used to be really nervous about games in little league. I needed something to help me calm down. Apple juice is one of the best things in the world. I drink it on the sideline during games, and it helps me stay comfortable." Of course, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Moore also happens to be a five-star quarterback for prominent Detroit King high school and is coming off a state title. With five-star cornerback Will Johnson off to Michigan, Moore has be- come the face of Detroit. Moore moved to the city from Cleve- land when he was still in elementary school. Now, he reps Detroit everywhere he goes, often saying 3200 — King's ad- dress is 3200 East Lafayette Street — with no context and sporting King and Sound Mind Sound Body gear. "I've basically lived my whole life here," Moore said. "People might say I'm the face of Detroit, but I still have a lot of work to do. Winning a state championship was the goal. I got that done with my brothers. I love being the hometown hero. It's a blessing." Being from Detroit isn't always easy, though. Moore lives in the city with his father, Otha, who owns a landscaping business. When he's not practicing with his team, touring the country with Sound Mind Sound Body or visiting colleges, Moore is doing what he can to help the man that raised him. "I appreciate my father a lot," Moore said. "He's bent over backward to help me travel and put money in my pock- ets. The past years haven't been how we wanted them to be. We sacrifice a lot and put in work until late at night and early in the mornings to make sure we're alright in the city of Detroit. I help out with cutting grass, painting walls and more. That's going to help me be a bet- ter man. I wouldn't be where I am today without him." Then there is the lack of respect. Moore, an On3 Consensus five-star quarterback coming off a state title for Detroit King High School, doesn't have to be on the bus riding hours cross country to compete in 7-on-7 tourna- ments. He wants to be on the bus. He wants to prove he's the best — not only for himself but for the entire city of Detroit. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND