Local punter Peter Moore could be an important target in Maryland football’s 2020 class

Local Class of 2020 punter Peter Moore could be a prospect that boosts Maryland football’s new special teams unit. He is listed as a five-star punting prospect and the No. 4 punter in his class by Kohl’s Professional Camps, which specializes in kicking and punting prospects.

The Calvert Hall standout was recently offered a preferred walk-on role by the Terrapin coaching staff, with the chance for it to become a scholarship offer later. With standout punter Wade Lees leaving the program, incoming freshmen Anthony Pecorella and Colton Spangler will be competing with Bentley Faulkner for punting duties in 2019, but Moore could provide a clear-cut option at the position starting in 2020 if needed.

“I’ve grown up watching Maryland football, so it was really cool to get that [offer],” Moore told Testudo Times.

On June 15, Maryland held a specialist camp, where Moore walked away with the award for best punter. Special teams coordinator John Papuchis and recruiting coordinator Marcus Berry keyed in and gave Moore a visit on June 21, where he received his offer.

Moore has camped and visited programs such as Penn State, Florida, Florida State and Georgia Tech, but his time in College Park really stuck out.

“They have really nice facilities,” Moore said. “And the new field house that they’re building is really cool because that’s unmatched anywhere else in the country. I just really like what the new staff has to offer.”

With a new staff comes new philosophies, but one of the most dramatic shifts in College Park will be in the punting game. With the transfer of Lees, the Terrapins will be transitioning to a traditional punting scheme, rather than the rugby-style punting they had been using.

“I’m a traditional pocket punter,” Moore said. “I can punt directionally, inside the 20, inside the 10. I can also roll out too, but I’m mainly a traditional punter.”

In his junior season, which was his first as a starter in high school, Moore averaged 40.5 yards per punt, had 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, while also making six of nine field goal attempts and having a touchback percentage over 60 percent on kickoffs.

A sense of familiarity could also play a role in Moore’s decision, as well as his ability to translate his play from high school to the college level. With long snapper Matt Oliveira transferring to South Carolina, a new competition has opened up between sophomore James Rosenberry and incoming freshman Paul Mouring, who comes in from Calvert Hall.

“Me and Paul are really close,” Moore said. “My freshman year I was on JV and he was my snapper, then we both transitioned to varsity, and I really worked out with him a lot. We’d hit the field, get work, lift together and always go out for meals after practice, so we’re really close. It would mean a lot for me to get to play with him again, and I know he’s pushing that. He wants me to be his punter.”

Moore would like to have made his decision before his senior season starts, but there is no rush to finish the process. He plans on returning to Penn State in July, and may travel to Washington State as well as he attempts to field offers and compare programs.

While Moore looks to further improve his hang time and pooch punting this summer, he is confident that he could perform well as a true freshman if called upon.

“All my training the last few years has really led me up to this point,” Moore said. “I think I’d be pretty ready [to start as a true freshman] now.”