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Monday, August 11, 2025

2025 Season Countdown: #24 Fredrick Moore

 

Fredrick Moore (image via MGoBlue)

Name: Fredrick Moore
Height: 
6’1″
Weight: 
191 lbs.
High school: 
Saint Louis (MO) Cardinal Ritter
Position: 
Wide receiver
Class: 
Junior
Jersey number: 
#3
Last year: 
I ranked Moore #26 and said he would be a backup wide receiver and special teamer (LINK). He started three games and made 11 catches for 128 yards and 1 touchdown, and he rushed 5 times for 28 yards.
TTB Rating:
 68

Last year I thought Moore would break out a little bit as a potential big-play receiver and returner.

It didn't happen.

On the bright side for him, the quarterback play and passing game in general did not generate big plays whatsoever. Michigan was one of the worst passing offenses in the country, and nobody was supported. Moore was third among wide receivers with 11 catches (behind Semaj Morgan's 27 and Tyler Morris's 23), and he was not used as a kickoff returner or punt returner. There's still a potential breakout here if Michigan can put together a cogent passing game, and it looks like there will be a step up from last year, considering Michigan now has two or three quarterbacks who are better than last year's starter, Davis Warren.

On the negative side, Michigan will still probably rely heavily on the run and tight ends. Everyone expects Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley to be the top receiver, so the rest of the wideouts will be battling for the #2 role. Moore has as good of a shot as anyone to seize that role, battling the likes of Morgan, Peyton O'Leary, Andrew Marsh, Kendrick Bell, and others. My hope is that McCulley becomes a downfield threat with his size, leaving room for guys like Moore and Morgan to work underneath and then make things happen with their speed. My (fake) money is on Moore to be the starter opposite McCulley.

Prediction: Starting wide receiver; 25 catches, 325 yards, 3 touchdowns

8 comments:

  1. Last year may have gone differently for Moore had he fought for that deep ball in the opener. A big TD could have been a confidence builder for him, the staff and even the three bad QBs

    He has the size. He has the speed. But in a RunFirstRunOften Offense, dude just needs to make the play when the play is there

    Here's hoping that the Bowl game was a coming out party

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Garbage underthrow by the QB. not on Moore.

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    2. It wasn't a good throw, but that play happens in CFB; a bit off, but a "playmaker" knows to adjust

      *during his interview, Moore said as much

      *the UFR came to the same conclusion

      *and Bellamy has talked about his Receivers needing to fight for the ball, which Moore did not ... at least not until the Bama TD

      Delete
  2. Yep nailed it.

    " the quarterback play and passing game in general did not generate big plays whatsoever."

    Hopeful that with Lindsay and Underwood on the case, the "cogent passing game" is extant. The fortunes of Michigan's receivers hinge on it.

    As for Moore specifically I am not sure he has the top end speed to be a big threat but the bar is not all that high right now to be in the WR rotation for whatever opportunities might arise. He'll play a big role but I don't know if he's going to seperate from the big pool of options so would not rank him this highly personally.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ingredients to having a downfield passing threat.

    1) An OL that can create the time for the route to develop
    2) A QB who has the arm and accuracy to get it to where the receiver has a shot
    3) A WR who can create seperation and catch the ball

    3 is principally created by speed (e.g., Roman Wilson) horizontally but can be manufactured horizontally with strength, timing, and reach (i.e., height). Usually the jump ball advantage is only going to win you the contested opportunities and that's going to be turning a 30% chance at a jump ball into a 60% chance in a best case scenario. You want to be throwing downfield to guys who are open not guys you hope might win a jump ball. That's the problem with emphasizing size over speed and skill.

    So I dunno who that potential deep target is going to be on Michigan but I doubt it's gonna reliably be McCulley considering Indiana demoted him to 5th string. Per Maize n Brew:
    "In 2024, he found himself passed over on the depth chart in Bloomington by Elijah Sarratt, Ke’Shawn Williams, Myles Price and Omar Cooper Jr."

    I don't think he has the speed, nor do I trust Underwood yet to be a reliable downfield thrower, nor do I trust the OL to protect him enough to support the downfield attempts. I do hope there will be more improve off scrambles and that Underwood trusts McCulley's size to make the most of those. But a lot of things that weren't there in '24 have to come together for the defense to respect the downfield throws from Michigan rather than just laughing and saying "good luck" and "thanks for the free down".

    I hope but I'll believe it when I see it. Go Blue.

    ReplyDelete
  4. If Stewart, Simpson, Goodwin or any of the FR can block and make a few catches, that's good news

    If McCulley (& the TEs) can bring it and move the sticks, we're looking good

    If Fred Moore / Semaj Morgan can create a little space, catch the ball AND get some YAC, we'll have an upgrade

    The bar is low; very low. But if the Receivers can't get their part done, we're cooked (another 4+ losses)





    *and if Chip passes to RBs regularly, WOOHOO we might be a playoff team

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Moore and Morgan were on the team last year.

      Delete
    2. Yep, and neither did much of anything. Nice low bar is set. Let's all hope they can get it done

      Delete