Former Quitman High School standout Tarvarius Moore (18) makes a tackle for Southern Mississippi during the Golden Eagles’ game against Louisiana Lafayette in December 2016 in the New Orleans Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers selected former Quitman and Southern Miss standout Tarvarius Moore with the 31st pick of the second round of the 2018 NFL draft Friday.

Moore, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety, attended Pearl River Community College before arriving at Southern Miss in 2016. Last year, Moore played in 13 games and tallied 87 tackles, three interceptions and one forced fumble. 

“It’s just a blessing; that’s all I can say,” Moore said. “I thank God first. Just all the hard work I put in, and all the support and the love from my family, right now it’s just and indescribable feeling. Everything you work so hard for finally pays off for you.”

Moore, along with 30 family members, gathered in Quitman for a draft party.

“We’re overjoyed, because this is what he’s been working for and (what) he really wants — we wants what he wants,” said Latasha Moore, Tarvarius Moore’s mother.

Moore’s high school coach, Steve Bynum, offered the following. 

“I’m super proud of him,” Bynum said “It’s well-deserved. He has worked his tail off from us to Pearl River to Southern, and I guess everyone in south Mississippi will be a 49ers fan. He’s extremely athletic, a great character kid that really understands the game from top to bottom. He’s almost like a coach’s kid — he just understands offense, defense, special teams, how everything fits, always like a coach on the field for us. They’re definitely getting a good one.”

Bynum said Moore’s selection also shines a spotlight on the Panthers’ program and the Quitman community. 

“It’s pretty cool,” Bynum said. “Probably the last time it got that much attention was when (Antonio) McDyess came thru in basketball.”