Hallandale’s Zack Moss set records at Utah. Now he’s headed to the Bills in NFL Draft
Zack Moss made history in his lone season in Hallandale Beach. As a senior at Hallandale, Moss ran for 1,098 yards and 17 touchdowns and helped the Chargers reach the state semifinals for the first time.
He made history for four years with the Utah Utes, too. The 5-foot-9, 223-pound running back ran for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore, then did it again as a junior and a senior, becoming the first player in Utah history with three 1,000-yard seasons. He finished his career in Salt Lake City as the Utes’ all-time leader in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. As a senior, he was the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Now he can add XX-round pick to his long list of accomplishments.
The Buffalo Bills selected Moss with the 22nd pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft — No. 86 overall — on Friday, making him the highest drafted running back in Utah history. He’s only the third player from Hallandale to ever be drafted, joining former guard Davin Joseph, a first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, and former tight end Butch Rolle.
Two of his ex-teammates — whom he followed from South Florida to Utah — have an outside shot to be drafted this weekend, too. Quarterback Tyler Huntley was a first-team all-conference pick last season and competed in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl, while wide receiver Demari Simpkins notched 352 receiving yards. The three former Chargers were lovingly nicknamed the “Hallandale Trio” as they became offensive centerpieces for the Utes, who won 11 games for the first time since 2008.
While Huntley won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for Florida as a senior, Moss was more unheralded leaving Broward County. Moss, who began at Mater Academy Charter in Hialeah Gardens before transferring to Hallandale for his season season, was the No. 1,100 overall player in the Class of 2016, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings. He spent about three months orally committed to the Miami Hurricanes before he flipped his pledge to Utah and former running backs coach Dennis Erickson late in 2015. He signed with the Utes despite a late push from the Tennessee Volunteers and turned into one of the best players in Utah history.
“He’s calm off the field,” said Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones, who coached Moss for his senior season with the Chargers, “but on the field he’s a monster.”
