College Park to Carolina: DJ Moore’s journey to the NFL

For weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, sleep escaped DJ Moore. As a probable-first round pick, workouts, meetings and the media consumed what can be a very stressful time for prospects.

“I probably won’t sleep…just waiting to hear my name get called.”

Well, Moore can finally sleep. The former Terp is now a member of the Carolina Panthers after being selected with the 24th pick in this year’s draft.

From Philadelphia to College Park to Carolina, it’s been a long journey to reach his dream.

The First Impression

A little over three weeks before the first Terp taken in the first round in nine years heard his name called, he was the main attraction at Maryland’s pro day, his draft stock first began to skyrocket when he introduced himself to the world on an even larger stage: the NFL Combine.

As around 100 of the nation’s best college prospects flocked to Indianapolis, the Philadelphia native got a chance to formally introduce himself to the brass of the NFL. For numerous scouts, coaches and executives, this would be the first time seeing Moore in person, and he knew how important that was.

“People could tell you that I work hard, but they gotta see it,” said Moore.

See it, they did, as the 6’0’’ receiver put on a show during his workouts. Strong performances in pass catching drills, the vertical jump (39.5) and the 40-yard dash (4.42) had NFL analysts such as draft expert Mike Mayock falling in love with DJ.

“I’ve got in big letters at the top of my chart on this kid, ‘Alert, this kid can play,’” said Mayock on NFL Network as Moore ran the 40.

A strong on the field performance is helpful for any player, but Moore’s chance to leave a lasting impression on teams came in the infamous combine interviews. Stories of mind-boggling questions and strange conversations have turned the interviews into one of the more mysterious parts of the draft process.

“Some of them were funny, some of them were serious,” said Moore. “For the most part, I made it fun either way.”

Funny ones included making the receiver choose between cats or dogs. Serious ones forced Moore to remember a specific play, watch a bunch of film, and then recite that play later on in the interview. The most challenging question for him? Trying to recite the ABC’s and 123’s together, as in “A1, B2, C3.”

“I ain’t do to well on that,” Moore said with a smile “Got some work to do.”

Overall, the combine was a success for the former Terp. Meeting with 22 franchises during his time in Indianapolis, Moore had clearly put himself on the map.

“Here is home…you still have to show up and show out.”

At about 10:30 a.m. on March 28, a young man stepped out of the players only area and onto the Cole Field House practice field at the University of Maryland for his pro day.

Despite not participating in the first part of the day, all eyes still focused on him. The heads of 30 NFL scouts and coaches turned in his direction. Murmurs from the spectators increased as whispers of “Is that really him?” filled the facility.

It really was him. Without participating in any drills, or even lacing up his cleats yet, DJ Moore had already stolen the show.

Moore, the now-former Terrapin receiver, was the main attraction for numerous reasons. He was coming off a junior season in which he broke the Maryland single-season record for receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,033). During his three-year campaign in College Park, Moore established himself as one of the most consistent and productive pass catchers in the nation, despite playing with eight different quarterbacks.

After putting on a show three weeks earlier at the combine, Moore’s draft stock asserted himself as one of the top receivers in the class, but his pro day still carried another level of importance.

“Here is home…you still have to show up and show out.”

That was the mentality for Moore as he stepped onto the turf at Cole in front of executives and scouts. Philadelphia may be the receiver’s real home, but the campus just off of U.S. Route One is where he became the player he is today.

All the practices, walkthroughs, wins, losses and injured quarterbacks led up to this moment. For the last time, Moore would have a chance to put on a show while dawning the Maryland “M”.

With an impressive showing at the combine in most areas, the receiver drills were the only part of the workout Moore participated in, as he hoped to show teams his improvements in certain areas since the Combine.

“Just coming out of my breaks quicker,” Moore said about what areas scouts wanted him to improve in.

Along with a few other Terps, he ran eight routes, and made eight catches, looking sharp and quick throughout. Scouts, coaches and every camera in the building focused in on the man wearing the number “1” on the back of his shirt.

In particular, Panthers Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner and Wide Receivers Coach Lance Taylor worked with Moore in between each route, giving him advice and pointers and possibly getting one last good look at their future draft pick.

Following the workout, Moore handled his media responsibilities. With bright lights and cameras in his face and numerous bodies huddled around him, he handled it all with a smile. A good thing, as it’s something that will become an everyday occurence for him very soon.

Sweet Carolin(a)

Mock drafts, much like a lot of other things in sports that are just words and numbers, do not mean anything as soon as the first team is put on the clock.

Before being chosen by the Panthers tonight, NFL experts had Moore scattered throughout the first round in numerous mock drafts, but even the receiver himself was unsure of where he could land on draft night.

“As far as round wise, [the teams] don’t really talk about it,” Moore said. “They just tell me I’m a great player and, like, my ceiling is so high.”

Many had him falling to teams such as the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. All made sense, teams with middle or end of the first round picks in need of a wide receiver. He met with all three plus one other team, the Panthers.

Maryland wide receiver D.J. Moore visited the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers, according to a source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 19, 2018

However, others had him going even earlier, with two local teams, the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, serving as possible landing spots.

“A lot of Ravens fans have been hitting me up on Twitter,” Moore said. “Redskins [fans] have started up since I’ve seen that 13th pick.”

He admitted to the media that starting his pro career near College Park would be an exciting experience, as would be going to Philadelphia Eagles at 32, allowing his family to stay at home and still see him play. Yet, to Moore, he was going to be happy no matter where he ended up.

“Any team that takes me at this point…it’s going to be exciting,” Moore said with a smile.

Moore will head to Carolina to work with an offense that has Christian McCaffrey, Devin Funchess, Greg Olsen and former Terp Torrey Smith. He could instantly become former MVP Cam Newton’s favorite new target.

“They have never been able to replace me…until today,” said former Panthers’ standout Steve Smith on Fox following the selection.

We may not know how his career in Carolina plays out, but there’s something everyone from Todd McShay down to Moore’s former coach Albie Crosby knows: The Panthers are getting a good one in DJ Moore.

“DJ, more than anything, is an excellent wide receiver,” Albies, who worked with more at Philadelphia’s Imhotep Charter High, told the Washington Post.

Continuing the Trend

Maryland has never been a powerhouse football school. It’s not Alabama. It’s not going to sellout every game, constantly compete for a national championship or produce an influx of NFL talent.

However, with more now being a member of the Panthers, he has the responsibility of continuing a trend in the NFL: Terrapin success.

If you know anything about Maryland football, you probably know who Boomer Esiason, Vernon Davis and Torrey Smith, Moore’s new teammate, are. The three all spent time playing in College Park before their successful careers in the NFL. Add Darrius Heyward-Bey, a first round pick in 2009, and that’s an impressive, but small, list of names .

But, that list is growing. Young studs such as Vikings’ receiver Stefon Diggs and Jaguars’ defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, Moore’s former teammate, are slowly putting Maryland football back on the map in the NFL.

“I talked to both [Diggs and Smith], the just said enjoy the process and continue what I’m doing,” Moore said at the combine. “Working hard in the NFL is going to be something that you have to do everyday.”

He also said that the two along with Ngakoue have given him advice on how to handle other parts of the NFL, such as picking an agent and how to handle such an important time in his career.

Although Moore’s situation may be different from those he’s talked to, as most of the recent Terps were middle-round picks, he understands that they all share the same experience from Maryland to the NFL. Despite team success not being too fruitful for them during their time in college, their performances on Sunday told Moore all he needed to know.

“No matter what’s goes on on the field,” said Moore. “You still get a chance to go to the league and put on a show, show your skill set at the highest level you can.”