Terry Moore S Duke | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Terry Moore S Duke
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 06/06/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (44%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 01/22/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 06/06/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (44%*) | |
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 01/22/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 83.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 51.7 | |
| Tackling: |
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59% |
| Run Defense: |
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76% |
| Coverage: |
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81% |
| Zone: |
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82% |
| Man/Press: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#104
Position rank:
#21
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| College Games: 25 College Snaps: 1171 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bryan Cook - Cincinnati |
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85% |
| Jaden Hicks - Washington State |
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81% |
| Brandon Joseph - Notre Dame |
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80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Terry Moore dominated as a dual-threat running back at Washington High School. The three-star recruit accumulated 4,935 rushing yards across two varsity seasons while earning back-to-back offensive player of the year honors and leading his team to three state playoff appearances with a combined 26-9 record. His blend of speed, vision, and physicality caught the attention of Duke's coaching staff, who saw untapped potential beyond his rushing statistics.Moore's Duke career started with a position switch that would define his trajectory. After enrolling in January 2022 and spending his first season as a running back, accumulating 128 rushing yards on 29 carries across eight games, the coaching staff made a bold decision during spring 2023 to transition him to safety. The move paid immediate dividends as Moore quickly established himself as a reliable presence in the secondary, combining his running back instincts with natural coverage skills that had been lying dormant.
The Washington native's junior campaign in 2024 transformed him from a solid contributor into a national standout. Moore started all 13 games and posted career-high numbers across the board: 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. His dominance earned him Second Team All-America recognition from Action Network, Second Team All-ACC honors, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the second-highest safety nationally with a 90.1 defensive grade. Moore capped his breakout season with a spectacular 59-yard interception return for touchdown against Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, the longest interception return in Duke bowl history.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Possesses exceptional hip flexibility and backpedal technique that allows him to mirror receivers and break on routes with tremendous efficiency
- Demonstrates elite ball skills with natural hands and tracking ability, evidenced by his four interceptions and consistent pass breakups throughout coverage
- Shows outstanding instincts and anticipation, reading quarterback eyes and jumping routes before they fully develop into throwing lanes
- Brings surprising physicality in run support despite modest frame, consistently filling gaps and making tough tackles in traffic situations
- Displays remarkable versatility switching between deep coverage, slot work, and box safety responsibilities without missing a beat in execution
- Takes excellent pursuit angles and shows good field awareness that allows him to arrive at the ball carrier despite not possessing elite straight-line speed
- Excels in both zone and man coverage situations, showing particular strength in man-to-man assignments where his technique and anticipation shine brightest
- Maintains excellent technique in press coverage situations, using leverage and hand placement effectively to disrupt receiver timing and route stems
- Possesses natural leadership qualities and communicates effectively with teammates, often seen directing traffic and making pre-snap adjustments in the secondary
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Frame could benefit from additional bulk to handle the physical demands of consistently taking on tight ends and bigger slot receivers in contested situations
- Tackling technique can become inconsistent when attempting to bring down larger ball carriers, sometimes resulting in missed opportunities or broken tackles
- Limited experience at the position with only three years of safety work could lead to mental lapses against more complex offensive schemes
- Average speed suggests he may struggle to recover against elite vertical threats who can separate at the top of routes
- Run defense grades indicate room for improvement in gap control and taking on blocks from offensive linemen in run support situations
- Tackling fundamentals need refinement as his technique can break down in one-on-one situations, particularly against power runners who can absorb initial contact
Scouting Report: Summary
Moore's ability to read quarterbacks and anticipate routes creates opportunities for impact plays in coverage, but that same reliance on anticipation becomes problematic when facing elite speed that can exploit his average foot speed. The smoothness in his backpedal and hip movement translates beautifully to NFL coverage concepts, yet his inconsistent tackling technique raises questions about his every-down reliability in a league where missed tackles get magnified.His coverage instincts and ball skills make him valuable in passing situations, but his struggles in run support and tackling suggest he'll need the right defensive system to maximize his impact. The transition from running back to safety shows in both his natural ball awareness and his still-developing understanding of leverage and gap responsibility. Moore can contribute immediately as a sub-package specialist, though his path to becoming an every-down starter will depend heavily on improving his physical play against the run.
The Duke product represents a classic high-floor, moderate-ceiling prospect whose NFL success hinges on scheme fit and development. His mental processing and technique give him staying power in the league, but his physical limitations create a narrow margin for error. Moore's best-case scenario involves developing into a reliable starter who makes timely interceptions and covers ground efficiently, while his floor remains a valuable role player who provides quality snaps in obvious passing situations where his coverage skills can be maximized without exposing his run defense weaknesses.
How other scouting services rate Terry Moore (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
79.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.