3DownNation top 100 CFL players: No. 58 DL Mike Moore, Edmonton Football Team

If you don’t already know this player’s name, expect to hear it a lot Moore in the future.

Mike Moore enjoyed a solid career at the University of Virginia, recording 108 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five pass knock downs, four fumble recoveries and forced three fumbles. At six-foot-three and 270 pounds, the native of Hyattsville, Md. was big enough to play defensive tackle but quick enough to rush off the edge.

Committing to the Cavaliers was an easy decision for Moore because his father, Shawn, is one of the greatest players in team history. He threw for 6,629 yards and 55 touchdowns over four years (1987-1990) and drew serious Heisman Trophy consideration as a senior.

Shawn was also part of Virginia’s coaching staff when his son committed to the team, working with the receivers for two seasons (2010-2011) before moving over to coach the tight ends. Mike and Shawn would see each other almost every day.

Then something awkward happened. After Mike’s freshman season in 2012, his father was fired.

There was speculation that his son would transfer, but Shawn quickly quelled those rumours.

“There was an assumption, a huge assumption from teammates and friends of his, that he was going to leave because of my situation,” Shawn Moore told the Washington Post.

“And the fact is — and I point-blank asked him — ‘What’s your thought process?’ He’s like: ‘No. I’m very happy. This is where I chose to come to school. You were a bonus just in terms of being there.’ But he didn’t come there because of me. He went there because he wanted to get a degree from U-Va. and wanted to play for the University of Virginia. That hasn’t changed. He still wants to accomplish those things.”

After going unselected in the 2016 NFL draft, Moore was invited to the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie mini-camp. He wasn’t offered a contract, which led him to Canada.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Moore played just 20 games over his first three CFL seasons with Ottawa (2016) and Edmonton (2017-2018) due to injuries. He recorded 27 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble over those contests, primarily serving as a rotational defensive tackle.

His breakout season came this past year when the 27-year-old was named a full-time starter alongside Almondo Sewell. Moore made 23 tackles and nine sacks in 17 games, earning a West Division all-star nod. He also sacked Vernon Adams Jr. in the post-season, helping secure a victory in the East Semi-Final.

Edmonton re-signed Moore to a two-year contract extension in January 2020 worth approximately $150,000 per season. One gets the sense that the best is yet to come from Mr. Moore.

3DownNation is unveiling its list of the top 100 active CFL players, a project that will run through December 31, 2020. To read the criteria for player eligibility, click here. The list to date can be found below.

59. OL Ryker Mathews, B.C. Lions
60. DB Tunde Adeleke, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
61. LB Jameer Thurman, Free Agent
62. QB Matt Nichols, Toronto Argonauts
63. DB Jamar Wall, Calgary Stampeders
64. DB Loucheiz Purifoy, Saskatchewan Roughriders
65. REC Lemar Durant, B.C. Lions
66. OL Brendon LaBatte, Saskatchewan Roughriders
67. OL SirVincent Rogers, Ottawa Redblacks
68. QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Free Agent
69. DB/RET Frankie Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
70. DB T.J. Lee, B.C. Lions
71. QB Zach Collaros, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
72. SAM Anthony Cioffi, Free Agent
73. DB Shaquille Richardson, Toronto Argonauts
74. REC Kamar Jorden, Calgary Stampeders
75. OL Darius Ciraco, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
76. REC Jalen Saunders, Free Agent
77. QB Dane Evans, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
78. REC Brad Sinopoli, Ottawa Redblacks
79. RET Janarion Grant, Free Agent
80. DE Avery Ellis, Ottawa Redblacks
81. DE Cordarro Law, Calgary Stampeders
82. DB Brandon Alexander, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
83. OL Jermarcus Hardrick, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
84. DB Branden Dozier, Free Agent
85. SAM Otha Foster, Saskatchewan Roughriders
86. DB Antoine Pruneau, Ottawa Redblacks
87. RB John White, B.C. Lions
88. LB Avery Williams, Ottawa Redblacks
89. LB Jovan Santos-Knox, Free Agent
90. DB Richard Leonard, Calgary Stampeders
91. REC Armanti Edwards, Edmonton Football Team
92. RB C.J. Gable, Free Agent
93. DT Mike Rose, Calgary Stampeders
94. REC S.J. Green, Free Agent
95. DB Mike Edem, Saskatchewan Roughriders
96. DE John Bowman, Montreal Alouettes
97. DB Taylor Loffler, Montreal Alouettes
98. QB Nick Arbuckle, Ottawa Redblacks
99. ST Mike Miller, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
100. DE Chris Casher, B.C. Lions