Dan Lanning opens up on expectations for Dante Moore at Oregon

This offseason, head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks went to the Transfer Portal to revamp the team’s quarterback room. They came away with Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.

Gabriel has gotten more attention this offseason as the presumed starter. However, there are plenty of expectations for Moore as well, which Lanning dove into at Big Ten Media Days.

“Dante came here with really clear expectations of how can he become the best player he can possibly be,” Dan Lanning said. “I think he’s really satisfied with his growth. He has an awareness and a realization too of looking around college football and seeing a lot of guys that were fifth and sixth-year Covid seniors last year and saying those were the guys that performed the best. It’s not about getting thrown in the fire, it’s about being ready when you do.”

Dante Moore entered college with massive expectations as a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He was ranked as the second-overall quarterback in that class and the third-best player nationally regardless of position.

Initially, Moore went to UCLA and started early as a freshman. However, he struggled through growing pains and didn’t consistently see the field in his first season. He finished the year with a completion percentage of 53.5 for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

“When you’re open and honest with your players about, ‘Hey, I’ve got high expectations for Dante as well,’ but that’s part of the development and what that’s gonna look like,” Lanning said. “We can’t predict the future. He might be a guy that we have to lean on this year to use.”

Dan Lanning talks balance of Oregon QB room with Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore

Oregon has a quarterback room of talented players, which means that Dan Lanning needs to find a way to balance out Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.

“More important than what they are as players, these guys are unbelievable humans,” Lanning said on The Herd.

“And they want to be where they’re going to develop but they’re great teammates. You got to see these guys in the locker room interact with their teammates and that’s what I think we have and you know in that entire quarterback room. You also got a young guy and often Austin Novosad that had an unbelievable spring. But you know, Dante can make every throw known to man, Dillon has unbelievable experience. So I’m really excited about our quarterback room.”