William Moore (American football)
Encyclopedia
William Moore is an American football
safety for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Missouri
.
Moore was a standout wide receiver
and cornerback
earning all-state honors on both sides of the ball. While at Hayti he helped them win three consecutive conference championships from 2001 to 2003. He finished his high school career with a school record 74 receptions
for 1,768 yards and 34 touchdown
s.
at the University of Missouri
over schools such as Oklahoma
, Purdue
, Mississippi
, Arkansas
and Illinois
, among others. After being redshirted as a freshman in 2004, He played in nine games in 2005, starting
two of them, finishing the season with 30 tackle
s and one interception
. As a sophomore in 2006 he played in all 13 games, with four starts. He finished the season with 51 tackles and an interception. As a junior in 2007 Moore recorded 117 tackles and set a school record with eight interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. His play earned him All-American and All-Big 12 first-team honors. As a senior in 2008, he battled through numerous injuries which cost him to miss two full games and parts of two others. Despite the injuries he finished the season with 85 tackles and an interception.
Moore finished his college career with 284 tackles, 11 interceptions, three sacks, and a school record four interception return touchdowns.
in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He wears the number 25 to honor his Missouri teammate Aaron O'Neal, who died during a voluntary workout in the summer of 2005.
Moore played only two games in his rookie season, however in his 2010 season, he played 16 games, recording 72 total tackles, 5 interceptions, and one forced fumble. He was the fifth-leading tackler for the Atlanta Falcons
in 2010, and was tied with Brent Grimes
as the leader in interceptions, with five each. Moore also plays with a former Missouri Tigers
teammate, Sean Weatherspoon
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
.
Early years
While at Hayti High SchoolHayti High School
-Notable alumni:...
Moore was a standout wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
earning all-state honors on both sides of the ball. While at Hayti he helped them win three consecutive conference championships from 2001 to 2003. He finished his high school career with a school record 74 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 1,768 yards and 34 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
College career
Moore chose to play college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
over schools such as Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
, Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
and Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, among others. After being redshirted as a freshman in 2004, He played in nine games in 2005, starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
two of them, finishing the season with 30 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s and one interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
. As a sophomore in 2006 he played in all 13 games, with four starts. He finished the season with 51 tackles and an interception. As a junior in 2007 Moore recorded 117 tackles and set a school record with eight interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. His play earned him All-American and All-Big 12 first-team honors. As a senior in 2008, he battled through numerous injuries which cost him to miss two full games and parts of two others. Despite the injuries he finished the season with 85 tackles and an interception.
Moore finished his college career with 284 tackles, 11 interceptions, three sacks, and a school record four interception return touchdowns.
Atlanta Falcons
Moore was drafted by the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He wears the number 25 to honor his Missouri teammate Aaron O'Neal, who died during a voluntary workout in the summer of 2005.
Moore played only two games in his rookie season, however in his 2010 season, he played 16 games, recording 72 total tackles, 5 interceptions, and one forced fumble. He was the fifth-leading tackler for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2010, and was tied with Brent Grimes
Brent Grimes
Brent Omar Grimes is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
as the leader in interceptions, with five each. Moore also plays with a former Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
teammate, Sean Weatherspoon
Sean Weatherspoon
Franklin De'Sean "Sean" Weatherspoon is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football at University of Missouri...
.