Five-star QB Dante Moore makes transfer decision

Moore, a Detroit native, was originally committed to Oregon out of high school. However, he re-opened his recruitment after Bo Nix decided to return for the 2023 season. Moore ended up choosing UCLA and competed with Ethan Garbers for the Bruins’ starting job. Both quarterbacks got opportunities early in the season to show what they could do, and Moore shined and grabbed the starting job.

But after dominating in non-conference action against weaker competition, Moore came crashing back to earth and struggled once the conference schedule began. After he threw pick-sixes in three straight conference games, he was benched for Garbers, who became the starter thereafter. Garbers led the Bruins to wins over Stanford, Colorado and eventually USC.

Moore received one more chance to have significant playing time later in the season, and he was a disaster against Cal. He had probably made up his mind by then that he was going to transfer.

Moore entered the transfer portal before the Bruins’ season-ending bowl win over Boise State on Saturday and committed to Oregon two days later.

Moore indicated when he announced his decision to transfer that he wanted to go somewhere he could develop. Redshirting behind fellow transfer Dillon Gabriel in 2024 could do wonders for his development and help him get back on track.

Moore passed for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his true freshman season with the Bruins.