As he continues to remain focused, national media is now looking at Malachi Moore.
The four-star defensive back for Alabama football is having a strong freshman year and is starting to reap some benefits.
He was named Freshman of the Week from the Southeastern Conference for his performance versus Texas A&M — six total tackles, two pass breakups, one interception — while earning player of the week honors from the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff.
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Moore, one of the top safety prospects in the 2020 recruiting cycle, is now being looked at by Pro Football Focus as an elite coverage defender.
According to a graphic on Twitter from the site, the alumnus of Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School stands in the top four of college football for most targets in coverage with no touchdowns allowed. Opposing quarterback have targeted Moore 28 times, yet he has not given up a score.
He ranks second behind Garrett Williams, a redshirt freshman at Syracuse.
Most targets in coverage with 0 TDs allowed:
1. Garrett Williams, Syracuse – 30
2. Malachi Moore, Alabama – 28
3. Marquis Waters, Duke – 27
4. Jammie Robinson, SC – 26 pic.twitter.com/v4keUTaiu5— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 21, 2020
Moore is ahead of Marquis Waters (senior, Duke) and Jammie Robinson (sophomore, South Carolina).
Waters, a three-year starter at safety, has played in 44 career games with 30 starts.
Prior to this season, he had 163 tackles, six tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and three interceptions.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder chimes in with 35 tackles, three stops for loss, one sack and four breakups through six games this season. Waters is a legitimate NFL Draft prospect for 2021 and Moore is in front of him in this category.
Robinson, a nickel back/safety, is coming off a Freshman All-SEC year for the Gamecocks.
He collected 62 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one interception in 2019.
This year, he has 25 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. Robinson has two years of experience on Moore and will be looked as a high draft pick for 2022.
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When it comes to Williams, this is his first season on the field. He redshirted in 2019 at Syracuse, but has 26 tackles and three breakups in five games.
The 5-foot-11, 184-pounder still has a full year of collegiate time under his belt versus Moore.
In his first season at Alabama, Moore has 18 tackles (sixth on roster), one tackle for loss, three pass breakups (shares team lead), one quarterback hurry and two interceptions (shares team lead).
He is learning a lot and is quickly rising as a superstar.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
