What will QB Dante Moore bring to Oregon?
On Monday, Oregon landed UCLA transfer quarterback Dante Moore from the transfer portal. Moore entered the portal after just one season with the Bruins, so he has three years of eligibility left (four years if he takes a redshirt). When Moore committed to UCLA as part of their 2023 class, he came in as a 5-star pro style quarterback with a 6.1 Rivals rating, playing his high school ball at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Michigan. There was actually some speculation that he might end up at Michigan State after he entered the portal, but instead he is now an Oregon Duck.
Duck Sports Authority: QUAAAACK! UCLA QB Dante Moore announces transfer to Oregon
During his lone year with the Bruins, Moore played in nine games, going 114-213 for 1610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He needs to cut back on his interceptions, but aside from that he played well for a true freshman.
At 6’3”, 210 pounds, Moore has great size and a very quick release. He has tremendous physical tools, moves well in the pocket, and really just looks like what a pro style quarterback ought to look like. He puts zip on his passes with accuracy and knows how to make those tight window throws.
Probably the biggest thing for Moore to work on is his decision-making. As I wrote above, he threw too many interceptions. He’ll need to improve that area and just learn how to make the right reads: When to go for it and when to throw it away.
One thing that will help Moore a ton is playing behind Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel will play his final season at Oregon and will be the starter in 2024. That will give Moore a chance to watch from the sidelines a bit and ease into the starting role for the comings seasons. Moore also got a good amount of snaps under his belt as a freshman so should he be called upon next year, he’s a guy who should be able to fill in nicely.
Overall, the Ducks should be thrilled to add Dante Moore. He’s a tremendous talent with tons of upside and has all the pieces to be the quarterback of the future for them. It’ll be fun to see how he progresses in the spring, what the dynamic is like in the Ducks’ quarterback room, and what his tenure in Eugene ends up being like.
For more on all things Oregon, make sure to check out Duck Sports Authority.