Tag: Dante Moore

QB Dante Moore staying at Oregon, opts against entering NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, announced Wednesday that he is staying in school.

Moore made the announcement on ESPN’s SportCenter on the last day underclassmen not playing in the College Football Playoff championship game can declare for the draft.

The Ducks finished 13-2, the only losses coming against Indiana in the regular season on Oct. 11 and in the CFP semifinals on Jan. 9.

A 6-foot-3, 206-pound redshirt sophomore, Moore was ranked among the top overall draft prospects and second quarterback behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Instead, he likely will be one of the top prospects for the 2027 draft.

“Even this year, I had many great throws, many great plays, but at the end of the day, I feel like I could still learn so much more,” Moore said on SportCenter. “Of course, as a kid, since four years old, I’ve dreamed about being in the NFL. But, of course this team, we’ve been through a lot, and a lot of people are returning, so I feel like we’ve got exciting things coming this year, and I’m excited to keep pushing my team.”

Moore completed 296 of 412 passes (71.8%) for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 15 games, averaging 237.67 yards per game. He also rushed 73 times for 156 yards and two TDs.

A five-star recruit ranked in the top four by national recruiting services out of Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in Detroit, Moore played in nine games and made five starts as a freshman at UCLA in 2023. Moore used a redshirt season in 2024 after transferring to Oregon, where he appeared in five games as Dillon Gabriel’s backup and was 7-of-8 passing for 49 yards.

Oregon under coach Dan Lanning has had great recent success with transfer quarterbacks Bo Nix, Gabriel and Moore.

Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola announced Monday on Instagram that he is transferring to Oregon. He could potentially redshirt now that Moore has announced his return for the 2026 season.

Raiola, who has two years of eligibility remaining, started 22 games for the Cornhuskers over the past two seasons, passing for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns. His 2025 season ended with a broken right fibula in Nebraska’s loss to Southern California on Nov. 1. The injury is not expected to affect his readiness to start next season.

–Field Level Media

Peach Bowl places top QBs under pre-draft microscope

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tune into the Peach Bowl if you are a fan of good, old fashioned quarterback competition.

Long since settled as starting quarterbacks, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza of No. 1 Indiana are showcase attractions in the spotlight College Football Playoff semifinal in Atlanta on Friday night.

Squaring off for the second time this season — Round 1 went to Mendoza and the Hoosiers in a turning-point win — it won’t be the final time for a tale of the tape between the 20-year-old Moore and 22-year-old Mendoza.

Win or lose Friday, fans and armchair roster-building pundits will be measuring these quarterbacks by trait and every measurable comparison and contrasting skill all the way up until the Las Vegas Raiders call out the name of the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Beating a great team twice is extremely difficult. They’re star studded on both offense and defense,” Mendoza said on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “Draft picks all across the board. Having to play them twice is going to be tough. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Score the first few rounds to Mendoza, a transfer to Indiana from Cal who faced Moore during his UCLA cameo. The Hoosiers topped Oregon, 30-20, when they met at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Oct. 11.

“I gotta give Fernando his credit. He’s had a hell of a year. He’s had some great years,” Moore said. “This is our third time playing against each other. He’s somebody that works his tail off. Very smart quarterback, talented quarterback.”

Field Level Media rates Moore as the No. 2 quarterback in the draft behind Mendoza, with Alabama’s Ty Simpson — who lost to Mendoza at the Rose Bowl last week and entered the draft on Wednesday — on their heels.

Moore downplayed the looming stay-or-go call he’ll face when Oregon’s season ends. He said the difference this week from when he left UCLA for Oregon was his destination was a choice he had made long before entering the transfer portal.

“At the end of the day, when I started football at four years old, everybody’s goal is get into the National Football League,” Moore said. Yeah, there’s going to be all these things going on. I’m human. I see it on social media. But I told myself that I shouldn’t be engaged with it, because if I do, I’m thinking about myself and I’m not thinking about the 10 other guys on the field with me. So I gotta make sure I give them my 100 percent love and attention, because without them I wouldn’t be in the situation I am now. So I’m thankful for my teammates, and it’s going to be a great game. And when I see Fernando again and we talk after the game, whenever we do, I’m just glad I got to play against him.”

Former NFL coach Bruce Arians, who coached Peyton Manning and Tom Brady during his extensive offensive coaching career, recently likened Mendoza to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Brady, a driving force of the Raiders’ offseason as a minority owner, praised Mendoza’s ability to “think the game” and anticipate adjustments from defenses.

Mendoza leads the FBS with 36 touchdown passes and threw six interceptions. He also had six rushing touchdowns.

There will be troops in the Moore camp if he decides not to return to Oregon because of his easy arm strength and feel for the pocket.

Moore threw two interceptions and was sacked six times in the first matchup with Indiana this season.

–Field Level Media

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Ducks QB Dante Moore newest Heisman favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Five official weeks of the 2025 college football season have now produced a half dozen Heisman Trophy favorites.

The new leading candidate is Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who rose to the top spot at most sportsbooks following the Ducks’ 30-24 win at Penn State on Saturday. Moore completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns while Oregon improved to 5-0, and he is now the +750 Heisman favorite at BetMGM and DraftKings, among other.

Moore began the season at +2000 but has benefited from a combination of injuries and subpar play from five other quarterbacks who have spent time at the top: Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma’s John Mateer and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Moore’s rise thus far pales in comparison to that of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who opened as a +5500 longshot. A season-opening loss to Florida State was a further setback, but Simpson has impressed since. That includes throwing for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s win at Georgia, after which Simpson vaulted to the No. 2 Heisman favorite at +900 with DraftKings.

All the shuffling among the marquee quarterbacks has also helped the campaign of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He is now tied for the third-shortest odds at +1100 along with Beck and Mendoza.

Smith has racked up 396 yards and four touchdowns on 28 catches through five games. Mendoza briefly rose to the Heisman favorite perch last week, but slipped following a modest performance in a tight victory over Iowa.

HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, WEEK 5, CURRENT
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+1000), (+750)
Carson Beck, QB, Miami (+1200), (+900)
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+2000), (+1000)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1400), (+1000)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+650), (+1300)
Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee (+1500), (+1300)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+1500), (+1500)
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt, (+5000), (+1500)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (+1500)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+1700), (+1700)
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+2500), (+2000)
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+1400), (+2000)
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State (+4000), (+2000)
Jayden Maiava, QB, Southern Cal (+1600), (+2000)

Miami quarterback Carson Beck was idle over the weekend ahead of a critical game for his Heisman hopes at rival Florida State this Saturday. He currently owns the second shortest odds at BetMGM, where Smith and Simpson are both being offered at +1000 ahead of Mendoza and Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar at +1300.

Simpson was +2000 at the book just last week. In addition to the big win at Georgia hurting counterpart Gunner Stockton’s campaign, Simpson benefitted by LSU’s Nussmeier and Southern Cal’s Jayden Maiava suffering losses over the weekend.

One of the biggest risers this week was Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who rocketed from +5000 to +1500 after accounting for six touchdowns in a rout of Utah State. Also entering the conversation was Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who wasn’t even on BetMGM’s board at the outset. But he is now +1500 after orchestrating the 24-19 upset of LSU.

The constant fluctuation in the Heisman race before the calendar even his October stands to serve as a significant win for sportsbooks.

BetMGM reported that its four biggest liabilities in the market are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Manning, Mateer and Sellers. Manning has still been backed by the most money (12 percent), followed by Nussmeier (8.8), Mateer (7.6) and Sellers (7.1). Love, who opened at +5000, is still on the outside of the conversation at +2500 while drawing 4.7 percent of the money.

The biggest current threat to the book is Smith, who has been backed by 6.9 percent of the money and 8.0 percent of the bets since opening at +1300.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3) throws the ball during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-UCLA QB Dante Moore commits to Oregon

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former UCLA quarterback Dante Moore is set to become the second transfer quarterback moving to Oregon ahead of next season.

Moore announced his commitment to Oregon on Monday in an Instagram post. The Ducks previously snagged ex-Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Moore was ranked one of the top five quarterback prospects in the high school Class of 2023, and he initially committed to Oregon out of Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High in Detroit.

He wound up going to UCLA instead and played nine games as a freshman this year for the Bruins, starting five times.

Moore completed 53.5 percent of his passes (114 of 213) this past season for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times. His best outing was a 290-yard, three-touchdown effort in a Sept. 9 win over San Diego State. Moore also threw for 290 yards in a victory over Washington State on Oct. 7.

Gabriel, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is widely viewed as the favorite to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix for the Ducks. Moore could be in line to take over the job in 2025.

No. 8 Oregon (11-2) lost the Pac-12 championship game against Washington on Dec. 1 and is headed to the Fiesta Bowl against No. 23 Liberty on Jan. 1, 2024.

–Field Level Media

UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3) prepares to throw a pass during the second half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Reports: UCLA QB Dante Moore decides to enter portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore is planning to enter the transfer portal, per multiple media reports Thursday.

A top prospect in the 2023 class, Moore committed to Oregon out of high school before switching to UCLA.

Moore, a Detroit native, threw for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games with the Bruins.

The Bruins used three quarterbacks this season, including redshirt junior Ethan Garbers (984 passing yards, nine TDs, three INTs in 10 games) and transfer Collin Schlee (139 yards, one TD, two INTs in six games).

–Field Level Media

Detroit King quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs against Mason during the second half of Division 3 state semifinal at John Glenn High School in Westland on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.

5-star QB Dante Moore flips from Oregon to UCLA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Five-star quarterback Dante Moore changed his commitment from Oregon to UCLA on Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior from Detroit’s Martin Luther King High is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2023 by ESPN.

The decision comes one day after Ducks quarterback Bo Nix announced he will return to Oregon for a final season.

Moore told ESPN on Monday that he felt the Bruins program was best for his development.

“I went on a visit to UCLA,” Moore told ESPN. “I talked to God and my people and really within myself. I knew that UCLA was the right move for me.”

He said a major factor in his decision was former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham leaving the Ducks to become the head coach at Arizona State.

“It’s a spot that I truly love still,” Moore said of Oregon. “No love lost at all. I appreciate them recruiting me and taking my commitment and understanding my position.”

Moore led King to a Michigan state title earlier this month. He passed for 135 touchdowns and nearly 10,000 yards during his four-year prep career.

The only players ahead of him in the ESPN 300 rankings for 2023 are fellow quarterbacks Malachi Nelson (Southern California) and Arch Manning (Texas).

Moore told ESPN he plans to graduate high school early and enroll at UCLA in January. He will compete with recent Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, among others, to replace departing fifth-year senior Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

–Field Level Media

Detroit King's Dante Moore throws a pass against DeWitt during the third quarter on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit. 211127 Dewitt Detroit King 069a

5-star QB Dante Moore commits to Oregon

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Five-star quarterback Dante Moore announced his commitment to Oregon on Friday.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound pocket passer from Detroit’s Martin Luther King High is ranked No. 8 overall in the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2023.

Moore becomes the highest-ranked commitment to date for new Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, the former Georgia defensive coordinator who was hired to replace Mario Cristobal in December.

“Coach Lanning is going to be a great head coach, because he knows what it takes to get to a national championship, of course being at Georgia,” Moore told ESPN. “Coach (Kenny) Dillingham as the offensive coordinator, I know I can trust in the coming years. The playmakers and the team they’re building around them will be great for me in the future.”

Moore selected Oregon over Notre Dame, Texas A&M, LSU and Miami.

–Field Level Media