By Jerry Ratcliffe
Herman Moore, one of the most dangerous receivers in the nation during his Virginia career, has been elected to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. He is the sixth Cavalier to earn that honor.
A native of Danville and a graduate of George Washington High School, he teamed up with quarterback Shawn Moore to terrorize defenses throughout the ACC and beyond from 1987-90. The “Moore to Moore” pass connection thrilled UVA fans with one of the nation’s most lethal passing attacks.
Herman finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1990 (Shawn also finished in the top six) after being selected a consensus First Team All-American that season and helping the Cavaliers to unparalleled heights in the program’s history, a national No. 1 ranking in both major polls and a spot in the Sugar Bowl.
Nearly 40 years later, Moore still owns the NCAA record for the highest average gain per reception (22.0 yards) among players with at least 105 catches. In ‘90, he left UVA with the most consecutive games in a season with a touchdown catch, scoring in nine straight contests. He was also instrumental in helping the Cavaliers into the school’s only 10-win season (until 2025) in 1989, going to the New Year’s Day Citrus Bowl, also a milestone for Hall of Fame coach George Welsh’s program. UVA also claimed a piece of its first ACC title that season, sharing the crown with Duke, which was clobbered by Moore & Co. in the head-to-head meeting.
During Moore’s years at Virginia, the Wahoos compiled a record of 22-6 over the 1988-89-90 seasons.
Moore set the ACC record for single-season receiving yards (1,190), receiving yards per game (108.2) and receiving touchdowns (13) in 1990, easily making first-team All-ACC honors and first-team All-America.
When he left Charlottesville, he owned UVA’s career receiving yards mark (2,504), receiving touchdowns record (27) and 100-yard receiving games (8). His single-season TDs mark (13) and receiving yards (1,190) were records that stood for more than 30 years.
His No. 87 was retired by UVA and was later inducted into the state of Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Detroit Lions Ring of Honor.
Moore was also outstanding in track & field for Virginia, setting the school’s record in the high jump at 7-feet, 2.5 inches, a record that also stood for decades. It was his leaping ability along with his 6-foot-4 frame and wingspan that allowed him to dominate defensive backs, especially when it required leaping into the air and pulling down one of Shawn Moore’s passes.
That ability served him well in the NFL when he was a first-round draft pick by Detroit in 1991. He had an outstanding career with the Lions from ‘91 to 2001. He made four Pro Bowl appearances and was a first-team All-Pro selection three times.
Moore was one of the league’s top pass-receiving threats during his career with the Lions.
He presently is president/CEO of Team84 LLC, a marketing agency in the Detroit area. He established the Herman Moore Tackle Life Foundation, which provides life skills for youngsters.
