A solid performer at both receiver and returner at Missou, TJ Moe was #1 on the depth chart at the H-Receiver position for the Tigers. His impact season came in 2010 when he was the bread and butter for the Tiger offense, catching 92 passes for 1045 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Invited to the combine, TJ did not really have a great 40 time (4.74) but his benchpress (26 at 225), shuttle drills, and three-cone drill (6.74) were tops at his position. Moe was compared by many scouts to Wes Welker thanks to his feet and versatility, so it was a natural fit that he was signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots. He has great potential to be a slot receiver at the pro level. Unfortunately he blew out his achilles and spent the whole season on IR. The team and many pundits though believed he was the next big free agent secret from the Patriots arsenal. He eventually was cut by the squad in March of 2014 ending up briefly on the roster of the St. Louis Rams. Currently he is a free agent.
Considered merely a solid 3rd day pick, Zaviar Gooden shot up the draft boards after excellent combine and postseason workouts where he dominated his position across the board. A Pflugerville, Tx native (that’s pronounced Flu-ger-ville) within spitting distance of Austin, Tx, -and the Longhorns, Gooden signed with the Missouri Tigers where he converted from Safety to linebacker. By his Sophomore season he was entrenched at the position, earning a respectable 84 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 picks. His Junior season was equally impressive with 80 tackles, a sack, and 2 more interceptions. While a hamstring injury limited him to only 10 games in 2012, Gooden managed to still have 61 tackles and an interception to his credit. After his stellar combine numbers, teams saw him as a linebacker with incredible upside that could play the weakside of the field for the defense, as Zaviar has great speed for the position (4.47).
The Tennessee Titans drafted Gooden in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft, which was a surprise considering the team didn’t really have a dire need at the position with Zach Brown under contract. It is theorized that the team will groom Zaviar in the meantime and let him play on special teams. He finished his rookie season with 12 tackles, including a season high 7 in a 37-34 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
DJ Fluker was considered one of the prizes of the 2013 draft. The Alabama standout logged an impressive 35 career starts at right tackle and earned accolades as an AP Second-Team All-American, where he had 33 pancake blocks, 4 sacks in 267 attempts, and only missed 11 assignments and committed 2 penalties in 728 snaps in 2012. Fluker has all of the athletic tools to exceed at the next level. At 6’5″, 339, he has the huge hands to match his solid build, and can create lanes easily for the running game with at his size, length, and hustle. Zipping up the draft boards in the final days of the draft, Fluker’s knock was that he relies too much on occupying space without bringing his hands up to sustain blocks and can sometimes overextend himself. Still sold overall numbers and pro comparisons for the young tackle.
Fluker was taken by the San Diego Chargers in 2013 with the 11th pick where he immediately became the best young prospect on the line. Still he suffered the usual offensive lineman ups and downs expected for a rookie, switching from right tackle to left after King Dunlap suffered an injury, but stats don’t lie. Fluker through November of his rookie season had only allowed 3 sacks and 24 pressures and has even put in time on special teams and on PAT. Pretty solid numbers right there.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Card: Leaf 2013 Draft
