The Ducks are fresh off one of their greatest seasons ever—12-0 in the regular season, Big Ten champs, looking like straight-up world-beaters. Then boom—Ohio State smacks ‘em in the Rose Bowl, and just like that, dreams of a national title go up in smoke. Now, with a roster about to get raided by the NFL Draft, the pressure’s on Dan Lanning to keep Oregon in the championship conversation. And that pressure? It’s sitting squarely on the shoulders of one man—Dante Moore. The QB room went through a mini-exodus, with Dillon Gabriel dipping for the league after tossing 30 touchdowns and finishing third in the Heisman race. Big boots to fill? Try circus-sized. And while Moore isn’t new to the hype train—the guy was a five-star recruit out of high school—there’s still that big old question mark floating over his head. Can he actually be that guy for Oregon?
On March 29, Oregon insiders Jason Piacelli and his co-host from the ROC Boys Football podcast aren’t tiptoeing around it. They’re all in on Moore’s potential. Piacelli didn’t mince words: “What excites me the most about Dante Moore is that the ceiling with this Oregon offense, with Dante Moore at the helm, is, in my opinion, infinitely higher than it was with Dillon Gabriel.”
Co-host? Even more hyped. “Now, there might not be a bigger Dante Moore fan than me. I think, like, you like Dante Moore—I think I like him quite a bit more than you. I am very willing to overlook some of the mistakes he made as a freshman because, again, we’ve talked about it—UCLA was horrible around him.” Let’s be real—his freshman year at UCLA was a rollercoaster. Nine games, five starts, 1,610 yards, 11 TDs, 9 picks. But the raw talent? No doubt. That 290-yard, three-TD game against San Diego State? Pure nastiness. The problem? Staying consistent. His O-line? Might as well have been rolling out the red carpet for defenders. The run game? Weak. Weapons? Outside of Sturdivant, nothing to write home about.
But there’s one elephant in the room. As the co-host pointed out: “The one question for Dante Moore is, is his athleticism maybe up another level? Because that did feel like a bit of a liability.” Translation: Can he escape pressure and make plays outside the pocket, or is he a sitting duck (pun intended)? Can Dante Moore be that guy at quarterback and make things happen when the play breaks down? That’s exactly what Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel brought to Oregon—escaping pressure, rolling out, dropping dimes off-platform, and turning busted plays into big gains. Moore’s got the arm, no doubt, but can he add that extra layer of playmaking to keep the Ducks’ offense humming?
Can Dan Lanning’s bold twin move keep Dante Moore cooking at QB?
Dan Lanning ain’t just rolling the dice on Moore and hoping for the best. Nah, he went full chess master, making sure his young QB is stacked with weapons. Enter five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore and the return of Evan Stewart. J.D. PicKell broke it down. “One of those guys they’re excited about? True freshman Dakorien Moore. What I’ve been told is ‘Moore to Moore’ is going to be a thing this fall.” Dakorien Moore is him. Five-star talent, elite route-running, and speed that’ll make DBs rethink life choices. The kid hasn’t played a college snap yet, and people are already calling him the next big thing at WR.
And then there’s Evan Stewart. Some folks were sleeping on him after an ‘alright’ 2024 season—48 catches, 613 yards, 5 TDs. But Lanning saw the bigger picture. “In addition to Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart is back,” PicKell added. “Having Evan Stewart in his more natural position as a slot receiver is going to allow him to do what he does best—which is find his matchup, find some space, catch, and get north and south.” With Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden off to the league, Stewart is WR1. And this time? He’s playing in his natural slot position, where he’s straight-up lethal.
Stewart’s a problem when he’s healthy. He balled out against Ohio State—149 yards, 7 catches—but missed the Rose Bowl with a back injury. Now? He’s WR1, ready to eat. But let’s keep it real—Moore’s still gotta prove he can make magic happen when things break down. Oregon’s O-line is solid, the run game is set, and his receivers are straight-up killers. But can he make plays when the pocket collapses? Can he be the QB when it’s 3rd & 9 with a blitz coming for his soul? That’s what’s gonna separate Dante Moore from being a solid QB… or a star.
The Ducks are betting big on Moore, and Lanning’s making sure he’s got all the tools to thrive. But come Week 1, all that talk won’t matter. Either he balls out, or the Ducks might find low-key themselves missing Dillon Gabriel more than they ever thought they would.
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