ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- By now, Kellen Moore is accustomed to the doubters.
His Boise State team fought for respect throughout his college career, and after leading the Broncos to 50 victories -- making him the winningest quarterback in college football history -- Moore still went undrafted last month.
He's in camp with the Detroit Lions this weekend after signing on with them as a free agent, and in a way, this is merely the latest chance for poised left-hander to prove himself.
"I think that's like a lot of us -- we like to kind of take an underdog approach," Moore said. "That's the way all sports teams try to take it. You always try and find a way to be the underdog in your mind, and get excited about opportunities."
Moore completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in four years at Boise State. Last season, he threw for 3,800 yards and 43 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Of course, those aren't the only numbers attached to Moore's profile. The 6-foot, 197-pound Moore will have to overcome concerns about his size and arm strength. He's 3 inches shorter than Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill, the top two quarterbacks on Detroit's depth chart.
That helps explain why pick after pick went by in the draft without Moore's name being called. By the time it was over, he was ready to put that experience behind him.
"I kind of quit watching toward the end," Moore said. "We were more doing phone conversations and just sorting it all out ... obviously, like any kid, your dream is certainly to be drafted. Things happen for a reason, and things come in goofy ways."
Lions coach Jim Schwartz has been hesitant to read too much into anybody's performance during rookie minicamp, which started Friday.
"He's left-handed," Schwartz cracked when asked what he has noticed about Moore.
But the Lions brought in Moore for a reason, and they don't expect him to be overwhelmed by the adjustment to the pros.
"He's used to being a quarterback, he's used to being the center of attention," Schwartz said. "He's started a lot of football games, he's won a lot of football games, that shows through the most about him."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
