Maryland football wide receiver DJ Moore announced Tuesday he’ll leave the program a year early to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
His decision comes after one of the best receiving seasons in Terps history. Moore led the Big Ten and set a single-season school record with 80 receptions and led the conference with 1,033 receiving yards. His nine all-purpose touchdowns paced an offense that played under four quarterbacks due to injury.
Moore was a second-team All American and first-team All-Big Ten selection.
“After the season, I had numerous thoughts running through my head,” Moore wrote in a Twitter announcement. “What weighed on my mind the most was that nothing is ever guaranteed in life and that you should always take advantage of every opportunity that you come across.”
By leaving for the NFL before his senior campaign, Moore followed in the footsteps of former standout Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who made the same decision after the 2014 season. Diggs was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round and has eclipsed 700 yards in each of his first three professional seasons.
Cornerback JC Jackson also chose to forgo his senior season and enter the draft this past month.
While ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper recently ranked Moore the No. 2 receiver in the upcoming class, other projections have listed Moore anywhere from the second to fifth round. He’s expected to participate in front of scouts at the draft combine starting Feb. 27.
“I’m thrilled for DJ and his family,” coach DJ Durkin said in a release. “I can’t say enough positive things about how he conducts himself as a football player, student and man. … DJ has tremendous talent and work-ethic and I know he’ll succeed at the next level. We’ll miss him as a member of our team, but could not be more proud to have him represent us in the NFL.”
