Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore is not known for his size. The Purdue athletics site lists him at just 5-9, 180 pounds. He’s an exceptionally explosive weapon though who’s not afraid to ask for help from a quarterback, even in the middle of the night. The 49ers were among several teams to virtually meet with Moore according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.
Moore’s bio on PurdueSports.com includes this remarkable bit of info:
A football junkie who once called former Purdue quarterback David Blough at 1 a.m. asking “Hey what do I run on this play?”
It’s easy to see why that anecdote alone would be enticing for NFL coaches looking for players who “love” football. However, his production in his one full season will also turn heads as the draft approaches.
As a true freshman for the Boilermakers, Moore posted a ridiculous 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in 13 games. He added another 213 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, and averaged more than 20 yards per kick return on 33 tries and handled punt return duties.
That’s an impressive resumé for anyone, much less a player in his first season.
A hamstring injury limited Moore to only four games in 2019, and he played just three games in a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign where Purdue only played six contests. Over those finals seven games Moore posted 64 receptions for 657 yards and two touchdowns, along with nine carries for 35 yards and a score.
The 49ers could wind up targeting Moore early on in the draft if they believe they need another playmaker on offense. He can line up in the slot and work underneath where his run-after-catch skills make him a nightmare matchup, but he can also play out of the backfield or split out wide and take the top off a defense.
While 49ers quarterbacks may not enjoy the possibility of a 1:00 a.m. phone call from a wide receiver asking about the playbook, they’d certainly enjoy having a playmaker to throw to who’s as explosive as Moore.