Moses moves to FSU

Taed Moses had an outstanding 2009 season in junior college, attracting attention from multiple quality Division I programs.

But there was one that stood at the forefront for Moses, and that's where the former Durant High standout is now.

Last week, Moses began classes at Florida State University in Tallahassee. FSU has one of the perennially outstanding programs in college baseball.

"There were other schools interested, a bunch really, but I wanted to go to FSU all along. Of course, I didn't tell those other schools that," he said.

Moses has a shot at earning a starting role for the Seminoles, a team that has a virtual guarantee on a spot in the national rankings each year. However, the 'Noles have yet to win a Division I title.

As a senior at Durant, Moses led the Cougars in hits, runs, homers and RBI while batting .342. That was on the heels of a junior campaign in which he batted .373. He graduated in 2008.

But he didn't quite have the build for a major college.

"I wasn't big enough, but I grew by about 20 pounds," Moses said. "Out of high school, I couldn't have seen myself signing with a big school like FSU, but as I got bigger it became more of a possibility."

His high school efforts earned Moses a scholarship at South Florida Community College in Avon Park. Last season, Moses hit .387 and led the Panthers in homers with 13. In addition, he was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year and was the school's Male Scholastic Athlete of the Year.

He wants to study sports management at FSU, and his on-the-field prospects look good, too.

"They have two good outfielders returning, but the other spot is wide open after their best one (Tyler Holt) got drafted," Moses said.

The first couple of days in Tallahassee proved hectic for the 20-year-old as he was trying to organize his classes and get used to a bigger city.

Avon Park, north of Sebring, only has a handful of restaurants. "Outback is the big hangout," he said.