Dante Moore takes over as the probable starter for Oregon football, a five-star from Detroit who started five games as a freshman at UCLA.
Teammates have raved about his arm talent and ability to deliver the football. In the spring game he layered a beautiful throw to Jurrion Dickey, over the cornerback and in front of the safety, good for 35 yards along the left sideline down to the 6.
It was a pro-level throw, one that seemed to confirm all the praise former teammates had for him this offseason. At the Rose Bowl, Tez Johnson said,
“Dante Moore? He’ll be a Heisman finalist next year, 100%. It’s something you ain’t seen yet. That boy can throw a ball like no other. I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s so ready.”
Jurrion Dickey making plays in the spring game. Nice touch pass from Dante Moore here pic.twitter.com/eSqhm3LMtx
— Max Torres (@mtorressports) April 26, 2025
The talent is there and we can all see it. In interviews, Moore sounds like he's matured in his apprentice year, really applied himself to correcting bad habits and improving his leadership.
It's unfair to judge him based on a five-game sample size as a true freshman with a bad offensive line and a checked-out head coach.
He's also an intelligent kid. As Michigan State Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022-2023, Moore maintained a 3.74 GPA at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, 32 passing touchdowns in his senior year.
Moore was the No. 4 recruit in the country in 2023 when he committed to Oregon but flipped to UCLA, changing his mind when the Ducks lost Kenny Dillingham to a head coaching job. That happens. It's the requisite consequence of hiring bright, ambitious people.
All that Duck fans know about Moore and his journey favors optimism. You can't help but root for an athlete that's paid his dues and chose development over an instant chance to be the man in an easier situation.
Yet there's one important thing fans can't be sure of: There was a moment last year when the entire season came down to one play. At Camp Randall, fans were going crazy during "Jump Around," 80,000 of them screaming.
The Ducks faced 4th and 9 at the Wisconsin 41, down 13-6 at the start of the fourth quarter. Dillon Gabriel was locked-in, his eyes as wide as they could go, tossing a football in front of the Oregon bench to stay loose during the TV timeout and the raucous tradition.
Back on the field, Gabriel rolled left and found Terrance Ferguson, threading a pass for a 15-yard gain between two defenders. Ferguson, on his knees, clutched it to his chest.
Live Action. That's the part you can't be sure of. Moore works hard, he's 6-3, 210; he's smart and well-coached. But that inner fire and composure is something that's only revealed in the moment.
Duck fans wish him well, but they can't know. The grace under pressure Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel had is a rare thing.