INDIANAPOLIS -- If the Steelers want to know anything about Western Michigan wide receiver Skyy Moore, they won't have to look all that hard.
In fact, Mike Tomlin probably knows as much about Moore as anyone in the country.
See, Moore's a native of New Kensington, Pa., and attended Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel, where he was a star quarterback and defensive back on the football team. And his main receiver at Shady Side Academy was one Dino Tomlin, the son of the Steelers' head coach.
"Those are my guys," Moore said of the Tomlins. "(Dino) was my best friend in high school. Me and Dino helped each other move on to college. We grew together. I remember getting there my freshman year and noticing him, even though he wasn’t the starter."
Ironically, it is now Moore that is the star receiver. Dino Tomlin initially went to Maryland but transferred to Boston College this year after catching three passes in his first three seasons. Moore was recruited as a defensive back, but was quickly asked by Western Michigan to move to wide receiver, something he had never before done.
He caught 51 passes for 802 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman in 2019, then another 25 for 388 yards in just five games as a sophomore in a COVID-shortened season.
In 2021, he exploded with 95 receptions for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns. That included 11 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in Western Michigan's 44-41 upset win over Pitt early in the season at Heinz Field.
"It felt great," said Moore, who was not recruited by Pitt. "Not only did it feel great to win in Pittsburgh, but it felt good to win against a team that was a legitimate contender."
Moore has worked hard on his craft to become a more complete receiver. At 5-11, 195 pounds, he knows there are bigger players available at the position. There are faster ones, as well.
But Moore is considered a potential second or third-round draft pick in this draft because of his quick release at the line of scrimmage, drawing comparisons to former Steelers star Antonio Brown for that ability.
Nearly every explosive play from Skyy Moore in 2021 was vs press coverage…
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) February 10, 2022
Impressive player with speed/suddenness and excellent hands. YAC weapon and vertical threat
DB/QB in HS at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/iuyHMWnlQU
"AB was that guy when I was growing up," Moore said. "I always when I was in high tried to emulate his work ethic. He was, no matter what you say about AB, you can’t take away the work he puts into the game."
Moore is Brown without the attitude. And like Brown, he was a high school quarterback who transitioned to wide receiver.
He believes that helps him as a receiver.
"It definitely helps me in a timing aspect," Moore said. "I know I can’t take all day (in my routes). I know what we’re trying to do to a defense and what the defense is trying to do to us."
The Steelers have a need at wide receiver with JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud all headed for free agency in two weeks.
Nobody knows what the future will bring there. But Moore certainly wouldn't mind a reunion of sorts with the Tomlin family as a member of the Steelers.
"It’s a storybook ending if I land with the Steelers," Moore said.
• As can be imagined, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was asked again about his hand size, rumored to be well under 9 inches.
"Whatever it measures, it measures," Pickett said. "I'm sure that won't be the last of it. But it'll be the last measurement I take of it."
• Pickett also was asked what it would be like to be the guy tapped to potentially replace Ben Roethlisberger.
"Obviously Ben's a hall of famer. And I've had multiple talks with them," Pickett said. "It would be unbelievable, like I've said before, to play in the city that I played college football in. I think it would be really special."
• In addition to meeting with all of the quarterbacks, the Steelers are doing their due diligence at the wide receiver position, talking to a number of the top players available at that position, as well.
They had an informal meeting with Moore, but also have met with some players getting first-round consideration at the position, as well.
That includes Penn State's Jahan Dotson and Ohio State's Garrett Wilson.
Wilson said he's been a longtime fan of current Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
"Coming from Toledo, I think Diontae Johnson was someone I had seen play, just watching TV, watching dudes in Ohio, he could really ball coming out (of college)," Wilson said. "I did have a formal with the Steelers yesterday, it went well."
