Wide receiver Michael Moore shines at UGA's pro day
ATHENS -- The pro scouts were getting a little antsy at Georgia's pro-day workout Tuesday.
The practice lifts were over, and the players had received their final instructions for the 225-pound bench press.
"Let's go, somebody get in there," yelled a scout.
Bulldogs wide receiver Michael Moore took the challenge and ripped off 22 lifts, letting out primal screams and grunts as he worked the bar into the air on his final three lifts.
The NFL job interview was underway.
The crowd at Georgia's pro day was much lighter than last season, when most of the NFL came to see quarterback Matthew Stafford work out.
Falcons coach Mike Smith was the lone head coach in the crowd. He was joined by general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Minnesota's vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman also was on hand.
But for players such as Moore, it was perhaps his best and only chance to impress an NFL team.
Moore wasn't invited to the NFL's scouting combine, which was held Feb. 24 through March 1 in Indianapolis, but he might have worked his way onto some draft boards with a nice workout Tuesday.
He had a shuttle time of 6.84, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds, had a standing broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches and had a vertical jump of 36 1/2 inches. His 22 lifts on the bench press would have been tops at the combine among wide receivers. Illinois' Arrelious Benn was the top lifter at the combine with 20 lifts. Moore's broad jump would have been sixth, and his 40-yard dash time would have ranked 10th.
"They thought I was slow and stiff guy," Moore said. "I came out here to prove them wrong. I think I pretty much did that."
Instead of moping about not getting invited to the combine, Moore used the perceived snub as motivation. He also did a little research before getting ready for his pro day.
"Last year 40 guys that didn't go to the combine got drafted," Moore said. "That shows that it's not all about the combine and who goes to the combine because about 150 of those guys might not get drafted."
Moore didn't hesitate when the call was made for someone to start the lifting. He won UGA's Leon Farmer award for his dedicated work in the weight room.
Some of the past Farmer award winners include David Pollack, Champ Bailey and last year's winner Mohamed Massaquoi.
"I wanted to get everybody pumped up because I knew I could throw up a good amount," Moore said.
Moore also showed off his hands, but had a surprise quarterback throwing to him -- former Georgia Tech signal-caller Taylor Bennett.
Moore finished his career with 59 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.
"All the scouts have been praising me, telling me that I did pretty well," Moore said.
Other Georgia players who took part in the pro day were linebackers Rennie Curran and Darius Dewberry, cornerbacks Bryan Evans and Prince Miller, defensive tackles Jeff Owens, Geno Atkins and Kade Weston, defensive end Roderick Battle, offensive lineman Vince Vance and safety Reshad Jones.
"It's a great day for our guys," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "They've put a lot of time and effort into preparing for these drills and this day. ... I'm really proud of them."
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
