Rod Moore, S Michigan: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Moore was a three-star recruit from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio in the class of 2021
The Michigan Wolverines arguably have the most talented secondary in college football. Safety Rod Moore is one of the top players at his position in the 2024 NFL Draft and will have a shot at a top 100 selection.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
Rod Moore, S Michigan: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior free safety from Clayton, Ohio
Background: Moore was a three-star recruit from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio in the class of 2021. He was the No. 506 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 483 for On3.com. Moore was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he amassed 68 tackles, one interception, and six passes defensed on defense and 28 receptions for 440 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Northmont went 8-0 in the regular season before having its playoff game canceled due to COVID-19. As a junior, Moore tallied 85 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Moore earned First Team All-Ohio honors as a senior and was an honorable mention as a junior. He received First Team All-Southwest Ohio District 1 honors as a senior. Moore also competed in track and field, posting a 6.99 60-meter dash and 22.17 200-meter dash. He was born on July 3, 2003.
Injuries & Off-Field: Had surgery for a torn labrum in January of 2022 and missed spring practice, slowed by an injury in the 2023 preseason
Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Media)
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt coverage, and field goal block units, only one defensive penalty committed in 2021 and 2022 combined, exposed to a variety of coverage roles, arm length should meet NFL thresholds, smooth mover transitioning in coverage, immediate reaction when he sees the QB set to throw, reads the QB’s eyes to jump routes that break in front of him, advanced ability to read the QB and key on his throws, route recognition is advanced, natural feel for deep routes that enter his zone, good awareness when facing multiple threats in zone, delivers good hits at the catch point to rattle receivers, instant recognition and trigger on wide receiver screens, explosive downhill blitzer, willing to come downhill and challenge the run, flashes of ideal run fits
Cons: Lean build, not a twitchy athlete capable of matching athletes in small spaces, speed might be a concern, lacks elite speed and closing burst, lacks sideline-to-sideline range, moved by eye manipulation, sometimes loses the receiver because he’s watching the QB, needs to play tighter to routes when playing the side with one WR, too much cushion at the top of in-breaking routes, should trust instincts more, stressed on downfield routes from press man against Theo Johnson (2022), hand usage when shedding blocks, overruns in pursuit which opens cutback lanes, makes sideswipe tackles instead of driving through ball carriers
Overview: Moore has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt coverage, and field goal block units. Michigan exposed him to a large variety of roles, including single-high looks as a centerfield safety in Cover 3, quarter-quarter-half to the half side, stepping down into the robber role over the middle of the field, deploying in off-man and press man in the slot, and two-high looks as a safety in Cover 2. Moore is a lean safety with NFL-caliber arm length. He isn’t a twitchy athlete and struggles to mirror more agile playmakers in space. Moore lacks elite speed and closing burst and doesn’t possess sideline-to-sideline range. However, he is a smooth mover in coverage with fairly fluid transitions. While the junior’s athletic profile isn’t the most impressive, his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and immediately react pops on tape. Moore uses his vision into the backfield to determine the quarterback’s plan and stay a step ahead of the offense. This awareness, combined with his advanced route recognition, makes Moore one of the most natural safeties in the game. He has excellent awareness and feel for deep routes that enter his zone and knows how to work through multiple threats in zone. The Ohio native delivers good hits at the catch point to rattle receivers. He instantly recognizes and triggers on wide receiver screens. Moore is a willing run defender who has flashes of working downhill with ideal run fits. Unfortunately, he lacks the hand usage and power to shed blocks consistently. Moore occasionally over-pursues the ball carrier and opens cutback lanes. He goes for sideswipe tackles instead of driving through ball carriers, which leads to broken tackles. The former three-star recruit is moved by savvy eye manipulation. He sometimes loses track of the receiver because he’s so focused on the quarterback. Moore needs to be tighter to wide receivers at the top of the stem. He allows too much cushion at the top of in-breaking routes and should trust his instincts more. Penn State’s Theo Johnson (2022) stressed Moore vertically when the safety attempted to play press man against the tight end at the line of scrimmage.
Overall, Moore’s awareness and recognition of what the offense is trying to accomplish gives him one of the highest football IQs among safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some average physical traits might limit what schemes he’s an ideal fit for at the next level.
Role & Scheme Fit: Free safety in a two-high shell
Round Projection: Fourth Round
Size: 6'0", 198 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 09-01-23