Name: Hayden Moore
Height: 6’3"
Weight: 205 lbs.
High school: Parker (CO) Regis Jesuit
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Moore was a senior in high school. He made 197 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.
TTB Rating: N/A
Moore was committed to Nebraska for several months in the 2023 cycle, pledging in June of 2022 and then staying committed until mid-December. However, an offer came from Michigan and an official visit in December sealed the deal, resulting in a pledge to the Wolverines and signing in December. It was a bit of a head-scratcher for Michigan, coming off of a Big Ten championship and "reaching" for the #1164 overall player in the country, according to the 247 Composite.
That being said, Moore is a good athlete who seems undervalued at that ranking. While I do not see him as a high-level athlete, I wouldn't bat an eyelash if he was ranked in the 500s or 600s. He has good size, decent speed, and a reputation as a tackling machine - his 197 tackles led the state of Colorado in 2022. I'm not quite sure where he fits at Michigan. I don't think he has the bend - he plays a little high - to be an edge rusher, and I don't see the athleticism to run sideline-to-sideline as an inside linebacker. In other words, I don't see him being a major factor on a team with the ability to recruit elite athletes, but he could be a guy who goes somewhere like Boston College or, ahem, Nebraska, and finds a good amount of success. He can play in the Big Ten. Can he play at Michigan? Time will tell.
As for the 2023 season, Moore is a little light and needs some development, coming from playing the SAM linebacker spot in a 3-3 stack defense. I think he's likely to redshirt, but special teams play could be in consideration, and even some late-season developmental time might be in order.
Prediction: Redshirt
I think you'll see more of this type of thing than in years past with portal/NIL being a bigger factor. We are loaded at Edge and LB and some of these freshman are going to be like OL have always been - watch, wait, work, learn, eat, lift, and look to the upperclass years for an opening.
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