Fort Smith North Side Football Coach Felix Curry has seen some elite players in his career. He considers McLane Moody, his sophomore quarterback for the Grizzlies, to be a top talent as well.
Moody, 6-5, 185 pounds, is also the leading right-hander in the Arkansas Sticks’ spring and summer programs. He reported hitting a 93 mph fastball with the Radar Gun last summer.
He committed to Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn last July. He wants to play both sports in college.
Curry took over the same position with the Grizzlies in 2013 and was the defensive coordinator for the Flowery Branch in Georgia before being promoted to head coach last year. While in Peach State, Curry played against the current NFL Signal Caller.
“I’ve played against Deshawn Watson and seen some of the guys in the Atlanta district grow. [Moody] That ability,” Curry said.
He remembers meeting Moody in middle school, but as soon as he arrived on the North Side, Callie realized that Moody’s athleticism was more than he expected.
“I thought I was 6-4 years old, long and skinny, not fast, unathletic, tall, with big arms. Then I started watching him run and some I told my coach I was watching Moody run. He’s really fast,” Curry said.
Moody last spring ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He also recorded a vertical jump of 31 inches, a progility of 4.4, and a long jump of over 9 feet.
“I started to realize how elite he was in measurable ways,” Curry said.
Moody played behind talented senior Demarion Savoy last year, but started three games after Savoy suffered an injury. He completed his 61 of his 124 passes for 710 yards and he scored 9 touchdowns, and rushed 10 for 46 yards and he scored 1. .
“In football, he not only has good arms, he has the perfect quarterback height,” Curry said.
Moody’s brother McQuade is a standout linebacker and pitcher for the Grizzlies and currently pitches at Carl Albert State University in Poteau, Oklahoma.
Moody enjoys the mental side of football before and after the snap.
“I like to think a lot, I like to make decisions,” said Moody. “Things move very fast. It’s a lot of fun.”
Summer baseball has limited his ability to attend college football camps, but he has two things in mind.
“I’m going to camp in Arkansas this summer. I’m going to camp in Oklahoma State.”
Curry thinks Moody could be a match for former North Side and University of Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones, who was the 19th pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2005 NFL Draft.
“I wasn’t here when Matt Jones came along,” Curry said. “He’d be pretty close to him in athleticism. A lot of people who’ve been here said Moody kind of reminds him of that. He’s a kid of 4.6 now, so he’s a senior.” I think you are referring to 4.4.”
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