Sky is the limit at Western Michigan for former Shady Side football standout Skyy Moore

Former Shady Side Academy athlete Skyy Moore has a knack for excelling on the football field, no matter the position.

Just this past season, during his freshman year at Western Michigan, the former Indians quarterback/defensive back switched to wide receiver, a position he had never played before. In 13 games, Moore led the Broncos in both receptions (51) and receiving yards (802) and also scored four touchdowns, three receiving and one rushing.

But Moore, who was the first player in WPIAL history to register 1,000 yards rushing and passing in consecutive seasons, isn’t even close to reaching his full potential.

“He’s a fun guy to coach because he’s motivated,” Western Michigan coach Tim Lester said. “When you have guys like that, where you know they are going to show up every day and work because they care so much, the sky is the limit.”

Heading into his sophomore year, Moore has a year of playing a new position under his belt and also has a full offseason to refine the finer points of his game. Throughout the offseason, he said he’s worked on the intricacies of the position, like the tempo of his routes, ways to get out of breaks and how to create space between himself and defenders.

Basically, he’s worked on things that take time and experience to pick up, because, for the most part, Moore’s athletic ability and football IQ helped him learn the position and succeed on the fly.

It showed throughout his freshman year when he produced three games with over 100 receiving yards and secured four passes for 162 yards and a touchdown against Ohio. Now, he’s excited to see what he can do when he really has time to learn the position.

“I feel like I have a lot of potential in the position and I started off with a lot of success as well,” Moore said. “So, I’m just anxious to see what I can do when I get hold of all of the knowledge that comes with being a receiver.”

When Moore heads back to school later this summer, he’ll also find himself in a better situation as well.

Last year, Lester said, the team’s top receiver, D’Wayne Eskridge, was being projected as a defensive back by NFL teams, so the Broncos switched him to the defensive side. Part way through the season, Eskridge suffered a season-ending clavicle injury, and he is now set to return to the team as a receiver.

Eskridge’s return gives Lester the opportunity to move Moore to the slot position, which he believes is a more natural fit.

“He’s just been perfecting the position and the things he can do,” Lester said. “He’s athletic enough and he does everything well enough to be a boundary receiver, but I think he can be a special slot receiver”

“I’m excited to watch him, especially if he’s got D (Eskridge) on the other side.”

Western Michigan has success with receivers in the slot as well. Two years ago, Jayden Reed earned freshman all-American honors while playing the slot, so Lester knows that his offense can find a way to optimize Moore’s abilities.

While playing in an offense where he has every opportunity to thrive is obviously exciting for Moore, the young Bronco said he isn’t worried about individual accolades.

“I don’t have too many individual goals. I just want my team to win the MAC championship,” Moore said. “That’s my goal, me doing what I have to do in order to win the MAC championship and be the best teammate I can be.”