5 things to know about new Jets WR Elijah Moore
The Jets went with offense again in the second round.
This time around the Jets added a receiver in Elijah Moore. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound wideout out of Ole Miss gives Zach Wilson and Mike LaFleur a unique weapon who can be the dynamic playmaker that New York’s offense has lacked over the past decade.
It’s evident that Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh are serious about building around Wilson and want to ensure that they can right the wrongs of the organization’s past.
With that being said, let’s get to know New York’s newest addition.
Dynamic Slot Receiver
(AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Moore was a hot commodity before Lane Kiffin made his way to Oxford, but he became one of the best slot receivers in the nation under his tutelage.
This past season, he led the nation with 10.8 receptions and 149.1 receiving yards per game. Moore hauled in a school-record 86 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns. Moore's 1,193 receiving yards were the most ever by an SEC player through the first eight games of the season. He was also named a first-team Associated Press All-American and received first-team all-conference honors.
Infamous Celebration
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
While Moore has since moved on from the incident, he is perhaps best known for his infamous touchdown celebration against rival Mississippi State in 2019. Moore caught what could have been the game-winning touchdown in the Egg Bowl, but got caught up in the heat of the moment. During his celebration, he mimicked a urinating dog in the end zone. The act resulted in a 15-yard penalty assessed on the extra point, which was then missed by Ole Miss's kicker. The Rebels went on to lose the Egg Bowl by one point. "Just working hard and changing people's perspective on me because they don't really know the real me," Moore said of the incident, via ESPN, in November 2020. "Not even to prove to everyone else, but just to prove to myself that an action like that wasn't myself. Just to learn from it. That's been the best part. Having a lesson like that to be learned and to grow from it and for people to see the growth."
4-Star Recruit
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Coming out of Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Moore was a highly touted four-star recruit. Moore originally committed to the University of Georgia over Miami (Fla.) and Ole Miss. He then surprisingly flipped his commitment to Ole Miss on National Signing Day and didn't look back. At the time of his commitment, Moore was the 197th ranked prospect in the nation.
Early Opt-Out
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Moore elected to opt-out of Ole Miss's season before the team's finale against LSU last year. After putting together a record-setting season through eight games, Moore was dealing with an injury. Rather than play through it with just two games remaining -- Ole Miss played Indiana in the Outback Bowl -- he decided that putting his future first was more important than risking further injury. https://twitter.com/e_moore03/status/1339696218079981572?s=20
What he brings to the table
(AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
While Moore primarily lines up in the slot, he's a player who can move all over the field, including the backfield. Moore is an explosive playmaker and sure-handed target. He managed just two drops compared to 86 receptions this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Moore also has the ability to go beyond the catch. He ranked fifth in the nation in yards after the catch and seventh in tackles avoided last year.
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