Moore Consensus All-American Freshman sensation makes history
Football 12/12/2018 3:46:00 PM Tom Schott
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - It has been a historic season for Rondale Moore.
On Wednesday, the Purdue football sensation became the first true freshman consensus All-American in the country since Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson in 2004 and the first Big Ten Conference freshman (true or redshirt) so recognized since freshmen became eligible in 1972.
Moore was a first-team All-American as an all-purpose player by the Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America and a second-team selection as an athlete by the Sporting News. He also garnered All-America honors from CBS Sports, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
Moore became the first non-junior or senior Purdue player to earn first-team All-American honors, first by any Boilermaker since defensive end Ryan Kerrigan in 2010 and the 21st consensus All-American in school history (including Leroy Keyes twice).
Furthermore, Moore won the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player in college football) and the Paul Warfield Award (nation's top receiver) and was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (nation's outstanding player) and the Biletnikoff Award (nation's outstanding receiver). He was the National Freshman of the Year by CBS Sports.
Moore leads the nation with 103 receptions, the second-most in a season by a Big Ten player. Chris Daniels of Purdue holds the record with 121 in 1999. Moore leads the conference with 1,164 receiving yards (11th nationally and fourth in school history) and 12 receiving touchdowns (tied for seventh nationally and tied for fourth in school history) and ranks second with 2,048 all-purpose yards (fourth nationally and second in school history) and 13 total touchdowns (tied for 11th in school history). Moore boasts seven 100-yard receiving games, tied for the most in a season in Purdue annals and tied for fifth on the career list. He tops the country with 822 yards after catches.
The last Purdue player to lead the Big Ten in receptions was Smith (91) in 2009, and the last to lead the country was running back Rodney Carter (98) in 1985. The only other Boilermaker to lead the country was tight end Dave Young (67) in 1980.
Moore has possessed the football 162 times and is averaging 12.6 yards per touch. He has 30 plays of 20 or more yards, including a 76-yard touchdown rush and a 70-yard scoring reception. Moore is the Boilermakers' third-leading rusher (18 carries for 203 yards, 11.3 average) and tops the team in kickoff returns (30 for 599 yards, 20.0 average) and punt returns (11 for 82 yards, 7.5 average).
Recap of Big Ten Honors Moore earned two major Big Ten honors - the Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year and the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year. He was the first Boilermaker to be recognized as the Big Ten's best receiver and the fifth to be selected the top freshman. He was named Big Ten Newcomer of the Year by the AP.
Moreover, Moore earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a wide receiver by the coaches and media, becoming the first Purdue player at that position so honored since Keith Smith in 2009. Moore was named first-team return specialist by the coaches and second-team by the media, as well. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors four times – following games against Northwestern, No. 23 Boston College, No. 2 Ohio State and Indiana.
Music City Bowl Purdue is preparing to play Auburn in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 28. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time), and the game will be televised by ESPN.
Purdue has accounted for 11,000 tickets - 3,000 more than the bowl's original allotment - assuring the Boilermakers of their largest bowl game crowd since 20,000 Purdue fans attended the 2004 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
Purdue Consensus All-Americans 929 Elmer Sleight, T
Ralph Welch, HB
1932 Paul Moss, E*
1933 Duane Purvis, HB
1940 Dave Rankin, E
1943 Alex Agase, G
1952 Bernie Flowers, E
1965 Bob Griese, QB
1967 Leroy Keyes, HB*
1968 Leroy Keyes, HB-DB*
Chuck Kyle, MG
1969 Mike Phipps, QB*
1972 Otis Armstrong, HB
Dave Butz, DT
1980 Mark Herrmann, QB*
Dave Young, TE*
1986 Rod Woodson, DB
2001 Travis Dorsch, P
2004 Taylor Stubblefield, WR
2010 Ryan Kerrigan, DE*
2018 Rondale Moore, all-purpose athlete
* denotes unanimous selection.