Derrick Moore explains why Michigan defense prepares edge rushers for NFL Draft

The Michigan Wolverines experiment and do a lot of unique things with their EDGE rushers and defensive ends. Current Wolverines defensive lineman Derrick Moore believes that is a plus for him and other defensive linemen in the program in their preparation for the NFL draft.

“First, I would say, how do we use our EDGEs is kind of good because it kind of helps you feel like the draft. It shows that you can do many things. You can line up on the outside, rush from outside; you can go down to the three-tech, four-I, we can sometimes drop into cover. So, we do many things. And I feel like they can also help me in the long run,” said Moore.

When it comes to putting out defensive line talent into the NFL, the Wolverines must be doing something right over the past few years. In the 2023 NFL Draft, defensive lineman Mazi Smith went in the first round to the Dallas Cowboys. Smith was primarily used along the inside of the defensive line but proved he could disrupt opposing offenses wherever he lined up. The year prior, a tandem of EDGE rushers, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, were graded as high first-round picks. Unfortunately, Ojabo went early in the second round to the Baltimore Ravens instead of round one due to an Achilles injury while preparing for the draft. At the same time, Hutchinson was the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Moore towers at 6-foot-3 and weighs 279 pounds, providing ideal size and strength as an edge player in Michigan’s defensive scheme. Moore was a four-star prospect out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was ranked the No. 37 overall player and the No. 5 EDGE in the 2022 recruiting class according to On3’s Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He recorded his first career sack in the Wolverines’ first Big Ten conference game of the season, getting a hold of Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards in the final defensive possession of the game to help solidify the team’s 34-27 win over the Terps. Two games later he’d record another sack versus Indiana.

Moore is trying to be the next top-end first-round defensive lineman to come out of the Wolverines program. In his freshman year, Moore proved he could get after the opposing team’s quarterback when given the opportunity to. In 2022 he played in just six games but was able to record eight total tackles, seven solo, and two sacks.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this story