Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is drawing praise from analyst Joel Klatt, who called him “one of the best players” in college football right now. The transfer from UCLA has transformed his game under coach Dan Lanning this season.
Klatt said people around the sport have a “preconceived notion” of who Moore is. That’s not who he’s been this season.
Lanning believes Moore’s development mirrors his own coaching journey. “The work has made Dante different,” the Oregon coach said.
“I think about what was I like when I first started coaching?” Lanning asked. “I wasn’t very good [when I started]. What were you like as a broadcaster when you first started?”
The perception of Moore was largely formed during his difficult freshman season at UCLA. He struggled to adjust to college-level protections and defensive packages.
“Dante is a great example of somebody who’s grown over time and learned how to prep and learned the answers to what defenses are doing,” Lanning said.
Moore’s statistical turnaround tells the story. He’s completed 50 of 64 passes for a 78.1% completion rate through three starts this season.
The numbers include 657 yards passing, seven touchdowns and just one interception. He’s added 34 rushing yards as well.
“Now, you look at a guy that’s calm within the chaos and makes big moments seem small with the way he’s handled them,” Lanning concluded.
Moore’s emergence has been crucial for Oregon’s offense this season. The Ducks have found stability at quarterback after Moore’s transfer from the Pac-12 rival.
