JUST IN: A potential significant player is the “breakout star” of the Buffalo Bills.
A top target for the Texas Longhorns, the 5’11, 175-pound Dakorien Moore did not halt his recruitment after committing to LSU last August. He visited the Forty Acres in early April and took a trip to Ohio State. Moore also announced this spring that he’s still considering Oregon.
However, the Longhorns are emerging as the frontrunner for the consensus five-star prospect, with three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions favoring Texas following Moore’s announcement. One key factor is head coach Steve Sarkisian’s effective use of wide receivers in his offensive system.
Another influential factor is the return of Chris Gilbert as the newly appointed special assistant to the head coach. Gilbert, formerly Texas’s Director of High School Relations, has strong connections in the Metroplex from his successful tenure as head coach at Lancaster. He rejoined the Longhorns in February after a season as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach at North Texas.
Ranked as the No. 3 player nationally and the No. 1 wide receiver according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Moore is an elite prospect with 10.4-second 100-meter speed and impressive performance in Texas high school football. As a junior at Duncanville, he recorded 71 catches for 1,523 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading his team to back-to-back 6A-DI state titles.
Texas currently has no commitments from 2025 wide receivers but remains a strong contender for other five-star prospects, including in-state player Kaliq Lockett and Florida’s Jaime Ffrench, while making significant progress in Moore’s recruitment.
Is Khalil Shakir the Buffalo BIlls’ 2024 Breakout Star?
After catching 39 passes for 611 yards and two touchdowns last season, Khalil Shakir’s impressive 2023 performance likely influenced general manager Brandon Beane’s decision to move on from Stefon Diggs and promote Shakir up the depth chart. Shakir’s best football may still be ahead of him.
Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Bradley Locker identified Shakir as a breakout star to watch in Buffalo, highlighting his potential impact on the team. “The Bills’ receiving corps will look drastically different in 2024,” Locker writes for PFF. “With no clear WR1, Shakir could become Josh Allen’s top wideout option. Shakir had a strong Year 2, producing a 76.9 receiving grade and a 2% drop rate. Additionally, Shakir improved in yards after the catch per reception and yards per route run. The former fifth-round pick should only continue to develop in his third season.”
It makes sense for Shakir to emerge as Allen’s favorite target and a potential breakout star, especially considering Allen’s nearly perfect 133.6 passer rating when targeting Shakir, who averaged an impressive 7.3 yards after the catch per reception. Shakir might be well-suited to become the Bills’ deep threat, filling the void left by Diggs.