2025 Trib 25 Preseason Football All-Star Team: Woodland Hills’ Zykir ‘Ziggy’ Moore

By: Josh Rizzo
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | 8:01 AM

Zykir “Ziggy” Moore feels a deep connection to many of the neighborhoods that make up the Woodland Hills community. That feeling gives Moore, who lives in Churchill but is originally from Rankin, a sense of pride when he pulls on the Wolverines’ football uniform.

Moore, who recently committed to play at N.C. State, is the son of Tyre Young, a Woodland Hills graduate who played at Pitt and IUP, and the nephew of Rontez Miles, who spent six seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets.

“I was made into this community,” Moore said. “My dad’s from Braddock. A lot of my family is from Braddock and played football for Woodland Hills.”

Moore, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior linebacker, is eager to get back on the field and leave his mark on the program. He missed most of last season after suffering an ankle injury in the season opener against Erie McDowell. Moore was pulled down during a 60-yard run on a hip-drop tackle.

It was the first time in his career Moore had to come back from an injury. He said his only worry was making sure he could live up to his potential of playing at the next level.

“I knew I had six Division I offers, and I wanted more,” Moore said. “I knew I had to come back seven times harder and seven times stronger. I was rehabbing to make sure I was good next year and for years to come.”

Woodland Hills coach Brian Tarrant said Moore started working to get back on the field right away.

“We had a head start on it because he got hurt in Week Zero last year,” Tarrant said. “We were really able to take our time and didn’t press anything. He doesn’t have any pain right now. We’re expecting him to have a great senior year.”

Moore enjoys playing a physical style on defense. During his sophomore season, he finished with 99 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss.

“I’m violent,” Moore said. “I have a good instinct on the ball. I have a good IQ for the game. I watch a lot of film. I know when the guard is pulling or when he is pass blocking. I know when the running back is behind the quarterback when he will get the ball.”

Moore also scored 13 touchdowns on offense as a sophomore. Moore is hoping to help Woodland Hills win its first WPIAL championship since 2009.

The Wolverines won their first section title since 2015 last season and finished 8-3. Tarrant said Moore will play an important role with the Wolverines’ defense.

“He’s rangy and athletic,” Tarrant said. “He covers a lot of space and has long arms and long legs. He’s a good tackler. Ziggy has a great IQ for the game, so we expect him to have a ton of success at N.C. State with the Wolfpack.”

Zykir “Ziggy” Moore

Woodland Hills

Senior

6-2, 215 pounds

Linebacker

Stars: 3

Committed to: N.C. State

Offers: Akron, Albany, Boston College, Maryland, Syracuse, Toledo, UMass

Tags: Woodland Hills