Dante Moore explains where his confidence comes from, how it plays into QB competition

UCLA’s Dante Moore may have had five stars next to his name as a high school recruit, but he still faces a task rarely asked of a true freshman: to start at quarterback for a power conference team. And not just any team, but a Los Angeles powerhouse that won nine games last year and lost a five-year starter at quarterback.

Moore is not officially QB1 in Westwood, but that’s the majority presumption as the Bruins begin fall camp. Luckily, the ultra-young Moore doesn’t fear the spotlight. Instead, he’s confidently attacking the preseason and ready to do whatever’s asked of him, whether that’s starting in Week 1 or backing up a veteran to start his career.

When asked where that self-confidence comes from, Moore cited a few reasons: first, his own preparation and practice work, and also the way he was raised by his father. He explained both at a recent press conference:

“My confidence comes from really me just knowing that all this preparation, all this studying and all this things that I’ve been doing for these past years — and, you know, I appreciate my high school coaching staff, especially my father.

“My father really, you know, just showed me as a young black man how to really go through life. And it’s feeling really confident about yourself and always, you know, walk with your chest up. Just show people that you’re confident in everything. So really that comes from that.

“But really when it comes to the football field, I probably say studying, preparation and really just having great conversations in the meetings before I come on the football field to make me know what I’m doing.”

Next, Dante Moore discussed the depth of UCLA’s quarterback room, noting that he’s gotten to take advice from a group of guys who are all older and more seasoned than himself. He may ultimately win the job due to his sheer talent, but Moore knows he has plenty to learn from the other guys who have been around the block as college QBs before.

So here was Moore on the strong dynamics between he and the other quarterbacks that has already developed.

“Like I said, you know, great quarterback room. You know, I’m the youngest one in there, just turned 18. So it’s just kind of like everybody in there is grown and more mature than me. It’s more just really me learning from my big brothers, you know. Just going in there every morning — you know. “

“We’re always joking around and a lot of times when we’re going over a new concept. Of course, I have a lot of questions, you know, a lot of times they’re saying this or that, they’re getting correct answers, but a lot of times I might just talk to Chase (Griffin) on the side, ‘hey what do you see by this?’

“And you know, like I said, the great quarterback room, I’m not really worried about who I’m competing with, really competing with myself. You know really, competing to better myself every day, worrying about my things I got to work on and just better myself.”

The kind quotes you like to hear from a rookie QB.