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Pros- Moore has the size and athletic ability to play either strong or free safety at the next level. He does a great job of keeping the play in front of him and reading the quarterback’s eyes. When he plays close to the line he does a great job of taking on blockers and blowing plays up before they can develop. He plays with great hustle and doesn’t stop his motor until the whistle blows.

Cons- Moore’s aggressive play often gets him caught in bad situations. He misses tackles by overrunning plays and will bite on play action. He struggles in man coverage and lacks the range NFL teams want from safeties. His production dropped drastically his senior year. Durability was a huge issue in college.

Scouts Take- Moore looked like a future top-15 overall pick during his 2007 season, when he had 117 tackles and 8 interceptions. He chose to come back for his senior year but just didn't look like the same player. His tackles dropped and he had just one pick in 2008. Despite his less then stellar 2008 season, NFL teams will be intrigued by his unbelievable 2007 season. He probably projects best as a free safety and should cut some weight to add quickness. He should definitely help right away on special teams with his hard hitting mentality. He has the potential to be a steal in the 2nd or 3rd round.

School Bio

CFI: Player Anatomy: S William Moore, Missouri - 12.6.08

1.23.09 - William Moore lacks the fluid hips to be effective in coverage, which is why some scouts are speculating he may have to make the move to linebacker, like Oklahoma’s Nic Harris. He seemed to get pushed back step-by-step by Brandon Gibson in coverage and then was completely turned out of position. - NFL Draft Bible On Location At The Senior Bowl

1.22.09 - Missouri safety William Moore has seen his draft stock free fall. He looks more like a "tweener" linebacker-safety than the ball-hawking safety he was billed as at Mizzou. Considered a possible first-round pick before his senior season, Moore is now in danger of falling completely out of the first three rounds - and possibly further - with his disappointing performance. – Times Picatune

1.18.09 - Safety William Moore and defensive tackle Ziggy Hood might see their draft stocks rise quickly now that a few projected first-round picks have returned to school. "Any time you have a guy projected higher than you who doesn't go into the draft, that only helps you," said NFL agent Andy Ross, who represents Moore and Hood. "The hard part is, this year in particular, there's so many good underclassmen who have declared. And if they perform, they're going to take up a lot of those top spots."

Scout's Take - 8.1.08

Pros: This 6’1” 230 pound wide-receiver-turned-safety is as athletic as they come, with the speed and size to flourish at the free safety position at the NFL level. He has spectacular closing speed (posting a 4.4 40 time) and is a terrific open field tackler (117 total tackles in 07) who can intimidate in the defensive backfield with his ability to hit, and hit hard. It is rare to see him on the losing end of a deep downfield pass--Moore had an NCAA-best eight interceptions in ‘07. In addition to his various physical abilities, this kid is a gamer—he took home the Cotton Bowl Classic Defensive MVP award. With 10 career interceptions, he needs only 6 this season to break the school’s all-time record. His versatility allows him to be used on special teams and play both the free and strong safety positions.

Cons: There is very little not to love about the Tigers’ defensive leader. Staying healthy has been a problem for Moore. In 2005 he broke a bone in his right foot and missed three games early in the season due to a hamstring injury. He had a screw inserted in his foot to repair the broken bone in the 2005 off-season. Most recently, he has missed spring drills due to off-season shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum he suffered in the Cotton Bowl. He is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the 08 season, but the questions of him staying healthy are looming, as NFL scouts keep looking for any potential weakness in this stellar prospect.

Overall: Moore is touted as the best pure athlete on his team. He can thrive in both nickel and dime packages, which will help him immensely when he takes his game to the NFL. It also helps his status knowing that he can play both the free and strong safety positions. His 2008 goal is to show the critics and scouts that he has put his injuries behind him and that he can remain healthy for an entire season. His speed and quickness is what will make the scouts rave about him and if his body holds up throughout the season, he will show his stuff at the combine. Look for him to emerge as the number one safety in college football and land in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.