D. J. Moore (wide receiver)

Denniston Moore Jr. (born April 14, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland.

Early years
Moore attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he played high school football for the Panthers. He committed to the University of Maryland, College Park to play college football.

College career
Moore played at Maryland from 2015 to 2017 under head coaches Randy Edsall, Mike Locksley, and D. J. Durkin. As a freshman, he started 10 of 12 games, recording 25 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he started all 13 games and had 41 receptions for 637 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he started all 12 games and set a school record with 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns. After his junior season, Moore was named to the First Team All-Big-Ten, and was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. After the season, Moore made the decision to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Professional career
Moore was invited to the 2018 NFL combine, where he led receivers in the broad jump, and recorded the second best vertical jump. He also ran a 4.43 second 40-yard dash.

2018
Moore was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. On June 18, 2018, he signed a four-year deal worth $11.2 million featuring a $6.2 million signing bonus. He made his NFL debut in the Panthers' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. In the 16–8 victory, he had no targets but did have a three-yard rush to go along with a 15-yard punt return. In the following game, a 31–24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, he recorded a 51-yard touchdown reception for his first professional catch. In a Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions, Moore had a breakout game with seven receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he finished his rookie season with 55 receptions for 788 yards and two touchdowns.