Rod Moore, SAF, Michigan
Size:
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 198 lbs
Accomplishments:
Third-Team All-Big Ten (2023) • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2022)
“Rod Moore is a proven safety prospect who boasts plus-level athleticism and alignment flexibility to make impact plays from multiple positions in the secondary.”
Strengths:
Man coverage vs. TEs and slot WRs
Defending the run from depth
Ball production in passing game
Plus-level athleticism and range
Concerns:
Recovering from spring practice knee injury/surgery
Thin and wiry frame
Strength as a tackler
Shedding blocks in run game
Film Analysis:
Rod Moore was one of the key leaders and members of Michigan’s championship defense. He is a great communicator on the secondary, making sure checks and calls are received by his teammates. He’s a coverage-versatile defender who can align in and cover multiple positions.
Moore is a plus-level athlete with enough range to protect his defense against deep passes down the field. Moore has oily and fluid hips to backpedal and turn/swivel with little wasted motion. He can zone turn quickly and drive on the route being targeted. He is skilled enough to play as a single-high free safety or as a middle-of-the-field defender. His alignment flexibility and athleticism help disguise coverages post-snap to confuse opposing QBs, forcing them to hold onto the football longer. Moore displays functional man coverage ability against both slot receivers and tight ends. This only helps his value to an NFL defense. Moore has made timely plays on the football to force turnovers with his six interceptions over the past two seasons.
He is a functional and sound run defender from depth. Moore reads the action at or behind the line of scrimmage quickly to trigger downhill with urgency. He displays good range from depth when driving toward the run action and defending the alley. He is reliable as a tackler with sound technique to wrap up the ball-carrier. In space, he breaks down and squares up the ball-carrier with good control and balance.
Moore is a thinly built defender who lacks muscle mass and weight. Against bigger RBs and offensive players, he can be overpowered on contact. In coverage, his frame leads to bigger receiving threats using their size advantage to box him out at the catch point, both down the field or on underneath routes. When covering vertical routes in man coverage, Moore must be consistent in turning and locating the football in flight. This will allow him to make more plays on the ball while in phase.
Moore is currently rehabbing from an undisclosed left knee injury during spring practice. He likely won’t see much on-field action in 2024 but hopes for a return later in the year closer to the playoffs. We’ll see if or how much of his athleticism takes a hit post-injury.
Overall, Moore projects as a starting free safety. He would be a good fit for defenses who love to pressure QBs and force quicker throws with his experience as a robber defender in the middle of the field. Between his intelligence, leadership, and plays on the football, Moore should be a solid starter in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Damian Parson