Vikings Draft: Concordia-St. Paul DE Zach Moore Worth a Look Late

Nov 11, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the bench against the Detroit Lions at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Lions 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings don’t have to look very far if they’re searching for a late-round DE/LB prospect to take a flyer on. There’s one who played his college ball right in their backyard, at D-II Concordia-St. Paul.

His name is Zach Moore. Dedicated fans of the Twin Cities college football scene already know all about him. The 6-6, 269-pound Moore earned D-II All-American honors his last two seasons playing defensive end for Concordia. And he’s getting some attention from NFL scouts.

Moore is a great example of a guy with considerable physical tools who blossomed late. He got some looks from D-I schools coming out of high school, but was so raw that he had to settle for D-II.

He improved steadily over the course of his D-II career, despite being hampered in 2011 after being ruled academically ineligible. The hard work paid off with great junior and senior seasons.

What do scouts like so much about Moore? They talk about his body control and his fluidity, and also his desirable frame. The natural tools are there, but now it’s a matter of him learning how to use those tools to achieve maximum explosiveness.

The other great thing about Moore is his versatility. He can play inside, he can line up at defensive end and he can maybe even play linebacker. And he has a great motor.

Obviously, we are talking about a developmental player here. As a a local guy with some legitimate upside, Moore might be a nice pick for the Vikings in the seventh.

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