The 49ers added more help to their offensive line Saturday in Jaylon Moore, an intriguing prospect hailing from Western Michigan University.
Moore (6-5, 311, 5.27) was selected in Round 5 with the 155th overall pick. He's made an impressive rise throughout his football career, going from a recruit who few heard of to now being on his way to the NFL.
Here are some things to know about Moore as he begins his time with the 49ers.
* He was at first an unheralded "hidden gem" tight end prospect before settling in on the offensive line: If you thought 49ers first-round pick Trey Lance was an under-the-radar prospet in high school, Moore has him beat. Moore's only scholarship offer was from Western Michigan, and he was rated as the No. 2,205 prospect in the nation in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Former Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck, who is now standing out in that role at the University of Minnesota, saw something in Moore that other schools didn't.
"He's the hidden gem of the class," Fleck said in 2016, per MLive.com. "The sneaker."
Fleck at first looked at Moore as a tight end, but Moore grew in his later high school career to become the size of a lineman.
"He's one of those guys that show how important camps are," Fleck said. "(If he was this size initially), he'd probably be going to a top-5 program in the country."
Moore was looked at as a defensive lineman early in his time at Western Michigan before being shifted to the offensive line. He feels his experiences at different positions will help him with the 49ers.
"I would say playing those different positions got my quickness and agility to where it is, and I definitely feel like I fit in with the 49ers perfectly," Moore said Saturday.
* He's been able to learn from some pros: While at Western Michigan, Moore was able to gain some experience from two offensive linemen who are currently in the NFL. The first was Taylor Moton (now of the Carolina Panthers), whom Moore lined up against early in his college career when he was playing on the defensive line.
"I got the chance to go against him (Moton) every day," Moore said, per the Western Herald. "I got to witness a lot of the things that he did."
After moving to the offensive line, Moore was taken under the wing of current Steelers lineman Chukwuma Okorafor.
"He taught me a lot," Moore said of Okorafor in 2018, per MLive. "Just watching him, I feel like I'm more comfortable to have seen what he's done and where he's at now, and everything that he's taught me as far as understanding coverages, understanding spacing and just getting to the right spots at the right time."
* He's experienced: Moore may have been a bit of a project early in his career, but he earned plenty of experience during his time at Western Michigan. He played in 36 games, was a three-year starter at left tackle, and was a two-time second-team All-MAC selection. He also had the chance to compete at this year's Senior Bowl, where he says he gained some confidence about his ability to compete on the next level.
"I didn't get to play against that competition week in and week out, but going up there and being able to compete definitely proved to myself that I deserve to be here," Moore told reporters Saturday.
* He sounds determined: Moore said earlier this year that his desire to improve helped him throughout the years as he grew into an NFL prospect.
"I'm always looking to get better, every single day, every time I step on the field, into the weight room," Moore said, per the Western Herald. "It shows in my film. Every game, I've improved, I believe. I just want to win."
It doesn't sound like he's going to change his approach either. He told the Western Herald, "Whatever team wants me the most, that's exactly where I want to be" and that he's ready to get to work for whichever team wound up selecting him.
"I'm still going to come in, grind, bust my tail, and work my way into making that roster and seeing where it goes," Moore said.
