Redskins Rookie Round-up: Fabian Moreau’s Shift to Cornerback

Over the past several years, the Washington Redskins have shifted several players to new positions. After the team selected Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff with the 5th pick in the 2015 draft, they moved him to guard. Recently acquired wide receiver Terrelle Pryor spent his college days as a quarterback. DeAngelo Hall transitioned to safety and took on the challenge of learning a whole new position after 12 years as a cornerback. Quinton Dunbar, an undrafted free agent in 2015, took transitioning to a higher level, however, when he not only changed positions but suited up on the other side of the ball, going from wide receiver at Florida to cornerback in the NFL.

While rookie cornerback and third-round draft pick Fabian Moreau, from UCLA, will likely want to seek the counsel of an experienced veteran like Hall, it turns out he may have more in common with Dunbar. Moreau went into preparation for the 2012 season as a running back; a phone call from his running backs coach, Steve Broussard, changed that, and Moreau found himself, like Dunbar, on the opposite side of the ball. When Broussard asked Moreau to give cornerback a try, the player agreed. According to UCLA’s paper, the Daily Bruin, Moreau later told his father, “Dad I’m going to give it a 100 percent. I’m going to give it a 110 percent if that’s what it takes. I’m going to learn it and I’m going to try and be a successful corner.”

Fabian Moreau as a running back at Western High School

Certainly, it’s that kind of attitude that contributed to Moreau’s successful switch from soccer to football in high school, and when you combine his attitude with his athleticism, Moreau’s success as cornerback in college shouldn’t come as a surprise. In the last season of his collegiate career, Moreau was a 12 game starter who led the Bruins in passes defended, was named honorable mention to the All-Pac-12, and tallied 32 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.

Moreau has one last change to make for now; it doesn’t appear he’ll sport #10 any longer. Redskins fans should look forward to seeing Moreau wearing #32R when he takes the field alongside Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland, and the team’s other cornerbacks after signing his contract and recovering from tearing his pectoral muscle back on March 21 at UCLA’s Pro Day.