Dante Moore Given No Room for Error as Dan Lanning’s Roster Draws Clear Expectations From Oregon QB

Dan Lanning’s Oregon doesn’t just develop quarterbacks; they turn them into prime-time stars. Justin Herbert, Marcus Mariota, Bo Nix, and now Dillon Gabriel—the list goes on. Seasoned QBs matter more in Eugene. Last year, Gabriel set a high bar with 63 career starts, putting the spotlight squarely on Lanning’s next guy. Now Dante Moore might not have the scars or stripes of experience yet, but his raw talent is undeniable, and the early Heisman talk proves it. With big shoes to fill and a strong team around him, Moore’s got no choice but to shine.

With Dillon Gabriel now in the NFL, the spotlight’s squarely on Dante Moore. And you’ve got to admit, stepping in for a QB who racked up 18,722 passing yards in college—second only to Case Keenum’s 19,217—is a huge deal. Yeah, Moore had some ups and downs at UCLA, throwing for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns but also 9 picks. But that time spent behind Gabriel? That was him learning the ropes.

Even The Number One College Football Show’s host, RJ Young, believes the same. “But I wanted to point this out because we’re asking Dante Moore to be that kind of prolific in what I’m really going to call year one and a half for him, because he did get starts at UCLA and he did play for Chip Kelly, and there were moments when he looked outstanding, when he looked really good. But you could also see moments where he looked a little bit unpolished, a little rough, and a little bit immature.” Young said. “And there’s every reason to believe that he’s going to have all the tools available to him that you would expect from what Dan Lanning has built at Oregon.”

Even former Oregon player and Tampa Bay draftee Tez Johnson thinks Moore can be the guy for Dan Lanning this season, maybe even a Heisman contender. As Johnson put it, “Dante Moore? He’ll be a Heisman finalist next year. It’s something you haven’t seen yet.” And get this, Moore’s already showing up in the early Heisman odds after spring ball. But names like Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, and Drew Allar are getting more of the Heisman buzz right now. Plus, let’s not forget that Dillon Gabriel finished 3rd in the Heisman race last year. So yeah, there’s definitely a ton of pressure on Moore, especially with Lanning building a strong team around his potential QB.

Speaking about all the new additions, RJ Young said, “Not to mention Dakorien Moore, who is the best wide receiver out of his high school class, joining Evan Stewart, giving them a two-headed monster on the outside, I think is going to be really great. They’re going to be damn good at tailback, getting Makhi Hughes to come over from Tulane, and they’re going to be even more stout on defense, adding guys like Dillon Thieneman and Bear Alexander to what is already a pretty damn good core.” Looks like Dan Lanning isn’t taking any chances this season.

But what about Dante Moore’s inconsistencies during his time at UCLA?

Dante Moore’s QB1 crown is in trouble

Oregon’s starting quarterback situation remains unclear, shrouded in uncertainty and mounting pressure. Dante Moore’s presumed victory now seems a three-way battle. As the Ducks practice in Eugene, Coach Dan Lanning remains tight-lipped. Spring drills showcased the strengths of Moore, Austin Novosad, and Luke Moga. Lanning initially favored Moore, the UCLA transfer, but that’s less certain now.

Now, Spencer McLaughlin has weighed in on Dan Lanning’s quarterback situation, and Dante Moore isn’t his pick. “Dante Moore has not been named Oregon starting quarterback. I don’t expect him to be,” McLaughlin declared. “I don’t know that Dan Lanning will ever do that. They might take the Michigan approach or just, you know, be in that same sort of headspace. ‘We don’t need to name anybody for nothing. We know internally,” he added.

Still, Spencer McLaughlin left the room open for discussion. “That doesn’t mean I don’t think he should be good, and there is some historical precedent for this,” McLaughlin said. And on top of that, he compared Dante Moore’s situation with Marcus Mariota. “The arguably greatest player in the history of Oregon football was really good from the moment he set foot on the turf at Stadium. […] But Mariota’s stats that season, I actually think, are a pretty good baseline for what I expect for Dante Moore.”

In his rookie season, Mariota threw for 2,677 yards, completed 68.5% of his passes, and threw 32 touchdowns, leading his team to a 12-1 record. If Moore matches that pace, he has the potential to shine brighter than Mariota, and it’s important to remember he’s still developing. “I actually think Dante Moore could throw for slightly more yards. Like, I think he could get around 3,000 pretty easily with the weapons that he’s got,” Spencer said. Moore’s arm strength and deep throws give him a strong chance to win the starting job.

But Dante Moore has one flaw, and that’s the only problem that keeps popping up in the conversations. Even McLaughlin mentioned it bluntly, saying, “[From] his time at UCLA, he struggled protecting the football. It is the biggest knock that you can throw on him. It’s why he was removed from the starting role after capturing it early in the season from Ethan Garbers.” Now, this season is all about redemption and taking charge for Moore. Let’s wait and see if he can turn things around in Eugene or not.