That these young players were going to be good was easily foreseen, but the surprising thing was how quickly it happened.
And the uncommon, not-fully-understood thing is the quality that sets Dakorien Moore, Brandon Finney and Dante Moore apart: their maturity.
Skill they had. That was in the ratings and their shining all-star appearances. What fans and scouts didn't fully appreciate was their capacity for work, for preparation, for their absolute mastery of delayed gratification, putting in the hours and reps long before the fans and television cameras showed up.
On Wednesday Dakorien Moore became the first true freshman to meet the media for an interview in the Dan Lanning era.
The 5-star wideout from Duncanville, Texas said, "I would say I put more pressure on myself than anything. I hold high standards for myself and I just try to make sure I do good on the practice field every day because whatever you put on the practice field is what you're going to do in the game. So, I hold myself to that."
He leads all Oregon receivers with 19 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns, also with three rushes for 42 yards and a touchdown. He's just getting started, and the potent combination of maturity, work and talent is the biggest reason why.
He talked about offseason training with starting quarterback Dante Moore in Dallas, long before spring practice or his sparkling Game Two performance against Oklahoma State, turning around two Cowboys with a stop/start move on the way to a 65-yard touchdown.
Hello, Dakorien Moore.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) September 6, 2025
3 plays, 2 TDs for Oregon against Oklahoma State. pic.twitter.com/92kR9Oz1ji
He spoke about the attitude and unity that's shared in this group, something that insulates them against noise.
"This is not about me, this is about the team, this is about the people who got me here," Moore said. This is about the support and the fans, and the people who've always been around here," he said. "It's bigger than me. Coach Lanning never fails to make sure we know that and that we're putting on for not just us, but for the people who grew up around this place."
He talked about Brandon Finney, the true freshman cornerback he works against every day, a young defender so sound in his technique that opponents have targeted him 11 times in 154 snaps, completing just two passes.
"Brandon is a crazy athlete," the 10.4 sprinter said. "What they like to say is that he fits the eye test. He has the size and length of a cornerback. Just going against him every day and seeing the work he puts in, not even in the field, but also in the weight room, he's about his business. He carries himself like a pro already."
It's startling to realize that on the No. 3 team in the country, the leading running back, best cornerback and top wide receiver are true freshmen, and the quarterback is a redshirt sophomore. That's a testament to evaluation and development by the coaching staff, and the maturity of purpose in these young players.