ESPN Predicts Former 5-Star To Replace Dillon Gabriel At Oregon In 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 4:00 PM ET

The Oregon Ducks only lost one game this season. Yet many of the program's most fervent supporters may view 2024 as a failure since the team fell short of lofty expectations, especially with Heisman finalist QB Dillon Gabriel transferring to Oregon this past offseason.

In the wake of Oregon's College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to No. 8 seed Ohio State, ESPN predicted the Ducks' starting quarterback to replace Gabriel in the upcoming 2025 season.

They highlighted redshirt sophomore Dante Moore as the top candidate to take over next year. A former five-star recruit, Moore was rated as highly the No. 2 player in the 2023 class.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound signal-caller originally committed to UCLA. He started for most of the 2023 season with the Bruins, passing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Moore would transfer to the Ducks after his true freshman season and spent 2024 learning behind Gabriel. He appeared briefly in four games for Oregon this year.

The Ducks seem confident in Moore and didn't pursue any quarterbacks in the transfer portal this offseason.

Behind Moore, Oregon has Austin Novosad, a former four-star recruit in the 2023 class. A high school track athlete who competed in the 110M & 300M hurdles and triple jump, the Dripping Springs, Texas product is the favorite to be the Ducks' No. 2 quarterback next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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