Production and age are often heavily discussed issues for wide receivers each cycle. Western Michigan WR Skyy Moore is an NFL Draft prospect whose scouting report fulfills these requirements. Moore has the alluring cosmetic elements. He has the analytical profile. But even more than that, he has great tape, and he could be a valuable weapon at the NFL level. How does Moore project, and what can he become in the professional ranks?
Skyy Moore NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Western Michigan
- Current Year: Junior
- Height: 5’9 5/8″
- Weight: 195 pounds
- Wingspan: 73 5/8″
- Length: 31″
- Hand: 10 1/4″
Moore’s Combine/pro day results
- 40-yard dash: 4.41
- Bench Press: 15
- Broad Jump: 10’5″
- Vertical Jump: 34.5″
- Three-Cone: 7.13
- Short Shuttle: 4.32
Skyy Moore Scouting Report
His name is Skyy, and he wears No. 24 — Moore’s vibe score is already off the charts. But there’s a lot more to Moore than cosmetic appeal. He was one of the most prolific offensive weapons in the MAC over the past two seasons. Conventional wisdom suggests that Group of Five prospects don’t usually declare early. But Moore is an anomaly. Moore is a unique, potentially game-changing talent.
Helmet scouting will play against Moore, who often played against MAC defensive backs. The competition level could be a question for some. But Moore’s competitive instincts and physical potential are undeniable factors of his game. Here’s a look at Moore’s tape, what he has to offer, and what kind of impact he can have in an NFL receiving core.
Moore’s athletic profile
Moore is on the smaller side, standing at around 5’9 5/8″, 195 pounds. But he comfortably passes the athletic threshold required of an NFL starter, and it starts with his burst.
Moore gears up incredibly quickly off the line, and it takes little time for him to go from 0 to 100. He has good stop-and-start ability. He can chop his feet, explode forward, accelerate through seams, and stretch space a bit. That short-area burst shows up after the catch as well. Moore has superb suddenness with the ball in his hands. He can plant and go and explode through creases upfield. He’s a shifty runner who can stack quick cuts with effortless energy.
Moore is very flexible as a route runner. He can sink his hips and snap around quickly on breaks. He’s an amped-up mover who can speed his feet up heading into route stems and hold his acceleration as he dips through breaks.
Execution beyond the physical traits
Moore, at the very least, has good athleticism for his size. But it’s his playstyle that truly completes his game. If there’s such a thing as a violent route runner, Moore is it. Stylistically, Moore is explosive in all directions. He can create large cushions with ruthless jab steps. He can also use subtle but quick bouts of physicality to aid acceleration out of his stems.
Moore has fast, sudden feet approaching his stem, and he has the fervent twitch to generate displacement. The Western Michigan WR has several releases in his arsenal as well. He can use his quick feet and twitch to create space and get off the line. Moreover, he’s a precise route runner who cuts stems with decisiveness and rarely keys in defensive backs to his true intent.
Even with his size working against him, Moore flashes body control and coordination in tight spaces. He’s able to corral passes amidst contact over the middle of the field, and he can dive and extend for passes with laser focus. More often than not, the Western Michigan WR actively guides the ball in with his hands. And after the catch, he can manipulate space with his twitch and unstable suddenness.
On top of his receiving ability, Moore is simply an all-out competitor who brings phenomenal energy and competitive drive on the field. He’s a willing blocker who engages with urgency, and he can extend and stab into his opponent’s torso.
Areas for improvement
There aren’t many holes in Moore’s game, but physically, he does fall short of the elite mark — even if he brings an explosive style. Moore is a short-strider. He did run a 4.41, but he doesn’t always play to that speed. He can’t always stack defensive backs, and he doesn’t often break away over the top. He’s explosive enough to compensate with his separation in the short and intermediate ranges, but he’s not a field-flipping deep threat.
Going further, Moore’s frame is smaller and lighter. He doesn’t have the length to bat down extensions in press. While he has the releases to combat that kind of coverage, he can get jammed by more athletic cornerbacks.
His smaller frame can be easy to reroute if he doesn’t get displacement, and he can get dragged down by arm tackles. Additionally, Moore’s length naturally limits his catch radius downfield, and some passes can go beyond his reach.
While Moore is a great route runner, he can occasionally be more sudden and sink his hips more on in-breaking routes. He should make more use of head fakes and deception, even if he doesn’t round off his routes. He can also expand his route tree a bit. Finally, while Moore is a solid hands catcher, he can resort to body catching on occasion.
Moore’s 2022 NFL Draft scouting report overview
A late riser in the 2022 NFL Draft discussion, Moore is quickly earning fans ahead of April. The Western Michigan wideout has a tantalizing skill set, at the core of which is his explosive, violent play style. As a route runner, he’s a twitched-up ball of energy and can be ruthless with his sudden movements and short-area deception. His footwork is fast, sharp, and relentless. He has easy hip sink and burst out of his breaks, accelerating into the open field.
Moore has a skill set that’s conducive to easy separation. However, he has ability in tight spaces as well. He brings excellent focus and coordination at the catch point and also has solid hands. He actively guides the ball in with his hands and can extend for passes at the edge of his reach. Moore has great utility after the catch, too. He has brutally terse stop-and-start ability, and his constant energy carries over into that phase.
Moore does have a few knocks. While he has good explosiveness to go along with excellent burst, he doesn’t have breakaway speed. His wingspan also limits him in some respects. Nevertheless, Moore is a habitual separator with a competitive edge, a violent movement style, and a motor that never rests. Combine that with his ability at and after the catch, and he can be a productive NFL receiver.
Moore’s size may translate best in the slot, but he has the short-area athleticism and release depth to combat press. He can move around, go in motion, and take screens — and he’s a complete receiver on top of that. Early-round capital is very much in play, and he’s a top-75 player for me.
Moore’s Player Profile
In a way, it’s shocking that Moore is already as good of a receiver as he is now because he did everything but play receiver in high school. At Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Moore played quarterback and cornerback. He also played basketball, earning all-section honors as a point guard two years in a row.
Basketball was a good experience, but football held Moore’s future. As a quarterback, he showed off electric dual-threat ability. And as a cornerback, he flashed receiver-like playmaking talent when the ball came his way.
Being severely undersized at both positions, Moore was barely a three-star recruit on 247 Sports’ 2019 board and was unranked on other outlets. He ultimately signed with Western Michigan and headed to Kalamazoo to continue his football journey.
Moore’s career at Western Michigan
Upon coming to Western Michigan, Moore quickly transitioned to wide receiver. Other prospects might have needed an adjustment period, but this is Skyy Moore we’re talking about.
Moore took his No. 24 jersey and made opponents fear it early in his collegiate career. As a true freshman, he amassed 51 catches for 802 yards and 3 touchdowns and added an extra touchdown on the ground. His performance was enough to grant him first-team All-MAC honors as a true freshman. In his first year playing receiver full-time, he accounted for over 25% of his team’s production. The dominance didn’t stop there.
In a five-game 2020 campaign, Moore put up solid numbers, collecting 25 catches for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns. His true breakout, however, came in 2021. Catching passes from fellow NFL Draft prospect Kaleb Eleby, Moore racked up 94 receptions for 1,283 yards and 10 touchdowns. He accounted for nearly 40% of his team’s passing output and once again took home first-team all-conference honors.
Moore’s NFL Draft ascension
Moore is undersized, and he comes from the MAC. He also isn’t a burner, even at his smaller size. That can be enough to turn some people away from the Western Michigan WR’s scouting report. But in Moore’s case, there may be enough there to earn confidence.
Moore has an alpha mentality that’s evident in his early dominance. And while he might not always play to his 4.41 speed, he’s a great athlete and compounds his game with an explosive, violent style, wherein every motion is abrupt and intentional. The NFL Combine numbers speak in favor of Moore. The numbers on the stat sheet speak strongly in favor of Moore. The tape does, too.
Tony Pauline’s scouting report for Skyy Moore
Positives: Big-play receiver who is a true vertical threat. Fires off the snap, immediately gets to top speed, and possesses a burst that he turns on in a single step. Plays faster than his 40 time and shows a second gear on the field. Tracks the deep pass in the air and makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception downfield at full speed.
Displays terrific eye/hand coordination, extends his hands, and snatches the ball away from his frame. Gets vertical, effectively times receptions, and competes to come away with the contested throw. Uses his hands to separate from opponents, loses no speed coming out of patterns on deep routes, and consistently catches the ball with his hands.
Negatives: Will struggle in battles at the next level. Cannot come away with overthrows due to his lack of height. Must improve his short and intermediate route running.
Analysis: Moore is a terrific vertical receiver who teamed with Kaleb Eleby to form a lethal duo. He’s a smaller slot receiver who needs to work on the finer details of the receiver position. Still, he comes with an upside. Moore possesses the ability to develop into a productive third receiver and brings special-teams potential.