Name: Fredrick Moore
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 176 lbs.
High school: Saint Louis (MO) Cardinal Ritter
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #82
Last year: Moore was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 67 catches for 1,504 yards and 24 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 68
Moore was an extremely productive receiver for a state championship-winning team in 2022. His receiving numbers are pretty outstanding for a high school season, although those numbers did accumulate over a 14-game season since Cardinal Ritter went all the way through the championship game. Regardless, how often do you see high school receivers rack up 1,504 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns? Despite the gaudy numbers, Moore still only ranked as a 3-star, the #72 wide receiver, and #520 overall.
Moore is still very thin at 176 lbs., and most guys have a tough time getting on the field at that size. I still had a tough time ranking him, because he could be anywhere from not getting on the field to being Michigan's starting punt returner. With A.J. Henning off to Northwestern (at least for now) and Ronnie Bell off to the NFL, Michigan needs a new punt returner. Moore is a consideration because of his success in the role in high school (he scored 7 punt/kick return touchdowns in high school). I have my doubts that Jim Harbaugh will trust a true freshman there, and when it comes to playing receiver, most freshmen just get a small dose of snaps, if that. I do think we will get a chance to see Moore on the field at least a little bit this fall so he can get his feet wet, because Michigan will need contributors in 2024, when Cornelius Johnson and possibly Roman Wilson could be gone to the NFL.
Prediction: Backup wide receiver and special teamer
I hadn't considered the AJ to NW move since Fitz was fired. Now I'm curious
ReplyDeleteI would bet against Harbaugh trusting a freshman to return punts but it's fair to note the opening.
ReplyDeleteI'll quibble a bit about freshman WR roles -- Harbaugh has trusted many freshman WRs for big roles in the past. Examples are Perry, Black, Bell and DPJ. Even last year, with a full room of WR vets, Tyler Morris played meaningful downs against TCU and Illinois. Clemons played in 9 games. Neither red-shirted.
With Johnson and Wilson in their final year, and Dixon/Dennis looking like longshots, I wouldn't be surprised to see the freshman get similar meaningful opportunities as last year's. I would have both English and Moore a bit higher on this list as they could be vying for second string contributor roles. I suppose Morgan will be another in that mix too but I expect 2 of the 3 do some things. Maybe Payton O'Leary is going to keep their snaps in check but I kind of doubt it.
Maybe I am more skeptical of Dixon and Dennis than I should be...
Peyton (not Payton) O'Leary looked good in the spring game, and Harbaugh has been talking about how good he's been in practice. He'll probably be a major weapon this year.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. I would speculate that the scholarship guys will be ahead of him when it counts. Last year Harbaugh hyped up Hunter Neff and Carter Seltzer at TE. While they played some, they where mostly afterthoughts, even when the top 2 guys went down to injury. So I'm skeptical.
DeleteMorris and Clemons were clearly ahead already last year and the 3 freshman coming in will be options too. I'd be glad to be wrong because it's always fun to see walk-ons earn a role, but I don't see O'Leary as any higher than the 6th option at WR. 6th WR can still play a role but that's probably his ceiling in my mind.