Could Jalin Moore contribute to a cluttered backfield?

Jalin Moore, RB
School: Appalachian State | Conference: Sun Belt
Experience: RS Senior | Age: 23
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 207 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Mid-Rounds
NFL Comparison: Kerryon Johnson (Running back comparisons are hard)

College Statistics

Player Overview

When Marcus Cox went down injured in 2016, many Appalachian State fans were worried that it would severely hamper the Mountaineers. However, his successor turned out to be just as, if not more, successful. Jalin Moore took the starting reigns and has since won Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and been named to the All-Sun Belt First team twice. Moore is from Shelby, North Carolina, and had only four scholarship offers coming out of high school.

Strengths

• Athleticism – Moore was listed on the list of freak athletes in college football with the claims that he can squat 650 pounds and clean 350 pounds, while also being timed at 4.37 in the forty-yard dash. This strength and speed combined with he fact that he consistently keeps his legs moving means that he breaks a lot of tackles around the legs. I would, however, like to see him break more tackles that center on his upper body.
• Vision – His vision is one thing that improved a lot during his playing career at App State. When he was first breaking out, he was a very hit or miss back that would often run into a lot of tackles at the line of scrimmage because he was always trying to make a big play, but before the injury that ended his senior season he looked a lot more patient and willing to wait for holes to open up. He still struggled a bit with vision at the line of scrimmage, but if he makes it to the open field then his vision is superb.

Weaknesses

• Passing Game – Though he was often targeted with flares out of the backfield, he never truly looks like a natural receiver. He had too many drops because he would look up field, and often looks a little lost in pass protection. In interviews, he noted that improvement in the passing game is a focus of his.
• Injury History – In the middle of his senior season, he dislocated and fractured his right ankle in a game versus Arkansas State. He also had several less sever injuries through the 2017 season, which caused him to miss a couple of games. He was supposed to partake in the Senior Bowl, but his ankle was not ready.

Film

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

While running back is not a glaring need for the Redskins, I don’t think it would surprise anyone if the team drafted a flyer in the later rounds. Before his injury, Moore was projected as a mid-round pick. However, that doesn’t seem likely coming off a serious injury. If the Redskins retain the services of Adrian Peterson, then it is unlikely that Moore would have a place on the team. Should the team decide to get a little younger at running back and not resign Adrien Peterson, then Jalin Moore could make an intriguing option for third or fourth running back if he is available in the later rounds.

An intriguing possibility for Moore should he really be as fast as claimed is as a return specialist. His skillset seems like it would translate well to that role in my opinion. One article claims that he had asked the staff at Appalachian State if he could return kicks, but of course, they didn’t want to risk the workhorse running back in special teams.