Safe to say that Springfield’s
Aiden Moriarty
has the chance to be special. Already displaying P5-worthy size, versatility, varsity production, and tape as a freshman, the 6’3, 240 lber. comes in as an easy choice for the state’s #1 prospect in the 2027 class. The way the state of Minnesota develops and pumps out defensive linemen is another bonus, as is the way the Springfield program has been producing big, dynamic, productive, successful, and overall high-quality prep prospects as of late. Additionally, Moriarty is a three-sport athlete, playing baseball and basketball in addition to the world’s greatest game, and in 2023, on Springfield’s Class A state runner-up team, the freshman posted 10 catches for 90 yards and 3 TDs + 62 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, and 2 FFs against varsity competition. ‘
Playing last season at around 220 pounds, Moriarty is now up to a reported 240, a sight and sign that should terrify his Class A opponents going into next season, and the tape shows a positionally and schematically versatile prospect who played QB/TE/DE in 2023, and defensively, primarily as a 4i/5T DE. Still, he also has reps as a standup EDGE a couple of alignments wider than the tackle. As a TE, he’s a massive target in the passing game with good acceleration, coordination, soft hands that can reel in receptions away from his body, and an overall big catch radius. Moriarty will run behind his pads and lower the boom after the catch and is a punishing blocker who can find work and success in the trenches, most effectively as a wing/halfback. The then-225 lber. looked controlled and showed solid pace as a route runner last fall, impressive for his size and age and not something I’m used to seeing from a small school, Outstate prospects this young. Defensively, the strength is most visible on tape from 2023. Moriarty is a strong kid who can back down tackles with power rushes and make tackles through contact and with OL draped all over him. He owns a good get-off, effective bull rush, nonstop motor, effective hand usage, and strength that helped him disengage from blocks quickly. Moriarty does a great job of attacking blockers and bringing the fight to the offense at the point of attack, and I like how he can easily shock and shed offensive linemen all around the LOS. Too much going for him right now not to think, contingent on continual development, that P4 football is in his future. I’d expect him to hang at or around the #1 ranking for his high school career. Cheers to the future, young man!