Dante Moore, the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class, first pledged to Oregon before switching to UCLA late in his senior year of high school. At UCLA, Moore started five games while battling poor offensive line play that eventually led to him being benched.
The experience, though humbling, fueled his growth. Moore’s move to Oregon was far from typical. Rather than demand immediate playing time, he embraced sitting behind veteran transfer Dillon Gabriel—a rare commitment to self-development in a college football era driven by instant results.
Expert Unravels Dante Moore’s Unlikely Journey to Oregon with Patience Behind Dillon Gabriel
Dante Moore’s arrival at Oregon represents a story of growth, patience and rare maturity in today’s fast-paced college football landscape. Once the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2023 class, Moore initially committed to Oregon out of high school before flipping to UCLA late in the cycle.
At UCLA, the highly touted 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback showed flashes of promise but endured growing pains, throwing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions across nine games while being sacked 16 times. His freshman year was a stark reminder that physical talent alone does not guarantee immediate success.
J.D. PicKell of On3 broke down Moore’s unusual path back to Eugene, highlighting that Oregon’s commitment to him speaks volumes.
“Dante Moore has been recruited by Oregon two separate times,” PicKell said. “Once at the high school level where he committed then decommitted, went to UCLA, then once via the portal.”
Despite a challenging year, Oregon remained sold on Moore’s potential, investing in his future even though he will sit behind veteran Dillon Gabriel in 2024. PicKell emphasized, “You’re paying for development if you’re Oregon at that point in time.”
Moore’s willingness to embrace a backup role instead of demanding immediate playing time is rare among top-tier recruits.
“Credit Dante Moore for being mature enough to understand he needs a year to sit behind Dillon Gabriel,” PicKell said.
Oregon’s approach to securing Moore reflects a deep belief in his abilities, likened by PicKell to putting a down payment on an apartment one loves so much that waiting a year to move in is worthwhile.
“You missed on it the first time, going to go after it the second time. That second time, we don’t get it for a year. That’s fine,” he explained.
The confidence Oregon’s staff has in Moore is reinforced by head coach Dan Lanning’s proven track record in quarterback development, which includes two Heisman finalists in the last two years. PicKell noted, “Dan Lanning and that staff, they know good quarterback play.”
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Trust in Lanning’s football values and recruiting acumen further solidifies Moore’s potential to thrive in Eugene. As PicKell concluded, “They will once again be in the Big Ten title mix, and Dante Moore will be the quarterback, and we’ll enjoy watching all of it.”
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