Just days before Tarboro High football launches into the 2025 season, star running back Kamerin McDowell Moore announced his college decision. The reigning 1A state championship game MVP has committed to Elon for 2026.
This is a huge in-state pickup for the Phoenix, who have produced multiple stellar running backs in the Tony Trisciani coaching era. McDowell-Moore, a senior, chose Elon over three FBS offers – Charlotte, Old Dominion and Kennesaw State. Gardner-Webb was the first to offer, with in-state FCS schools like North Carolina Central, Gardner-Webb and Campbell following suit during the spring.
McDowell-Moore ran wild in Tarboro’s 45-24 victory over Corvian Community School in the 1A title game at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium last December. He carried 20 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns, including a 60-yard TD jaunt. He was an easy pick for 1A state title game MVP.
McDowell was a workhorse all season for the Vikings, which now have nine state football championships in its trophy case. He carried 116 times for 1,627 yards and 21 touchdowns – averaging an insane 14.0 yards per carry (!) and 108 yards per game.
He also caught 15 passes for 233 yards and four more scores. On the defensive side, he managed 79 tackles and intercepted three passes as an outside linebacker. For good measure, he returned a handful of kickoffs and punts.
“I’m the third down back,” McDowell-Moore told RecruitingNewsGuru.com in July. “I’m not getting it on first or second down, I am getting the ball when we need a big play; that’s when they get me the ball. They are getting me the ball on isolation plays, misdirection plays and sweeps.”
McDowell-Moore also plays basketball and runs track for Tarboro.
The Vikings football team, coached by Jeff Craddock, is moving to 2A this season as part of the NCHSAA realignment. Tarboro will be the only 2A school in the Eastern Plains 2A/3A Conference.
McDowell-Moore and the Vikes go on the road in game one, a non-conference tilt on Friday against traditional eastern North Carolina power Rocky Mount.
👉 Watch Kamerin McDowell-Moore and the Tarboro Vikings play live this Friday night. Click HERE for a livestream of Tarboro’s season opener against Rocky Mount on NFHS Network (subscription required).
📋 For a complete list of Friday night football games from around North Carolina, including links to games being streamed by NFHS Network, check out our Week 1 NC High School Football Scoreboard.
