Dante Moore, the quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, has made the decision to stay in college next season rather than declare for the NFL draft. The 20-year-old athlete shared his announcement on ESPN on Wednesday.
“When it comes to me just making my decision, of course I want to feel most prepared and do what”s best for my situation, especially as a quarterback,” Moore stated. He emphasized that his choice was challenging, saying he had spent considerable time in prayer and discussions with mentors and role models. “With that being said, of course I”ll be coming back to Oregon for one more year, being able to play for the Oregon Ducks and reach our goal and be national champions,” he added.
This past season, Moore showcased impressive statistics, completing nearly 72% of his passes for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, contributing to the Ducks” strong 13-2 record. Despite being projected as the second quarterback to be selected in the upcoming NFL draft, following Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, Moore”s decision comes after a tough game against Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinal, where the Ducks were defeated 56-22.
In that game, Moore struggled with three critical turnovers in the first half, which allowed Indiana to build a substantial 35-7 lead by halftime. He finished the game with 24 completions on 39 attempts, totaling 285 yards and two touchdowns.
Moore began his college football journey at UCLA but transferred to Oregon after one season. Initially serving as a backup to Dillon Gabriel, he stepped into the starting role when Gabriel left for the NFL.
“I feel like when it comes to me pushing my teammates to make sure that they”re at their best, I can become a better leader,” Moore remarked regarding his aspirations for the upcoming season. He also expressed his desire to improve his playing style by studying defenses more effectively: “I”m still 20 years old, so I”m still young and I have a lot of memories to make out here in college. I”m excited to be around the guys.”
Following the loss to Indiana, Oregon”s coach Dan Lanning expressed hope that Moore would return, praising his performance over the season. “Dante has been exceptional,” Lanning noted. “It”s gone right for us 13 times. It didn”t go right tonight. You can”t let that overshadow. Every one of us has unbelievable disappointment. Learn from it.”
This decision marks a significant moment for both Moore and the Oregon program as they prepare for the next season with aspirations of competing for a national championship.
