Could Dante Moore be Even Better This Season Thanks to This Transfer?

Last season, the Oregon Ducks went all the way to the National Championship before being defeated by the Indiana Hoosiers. The Ducks had fantastic players littered all over the field, but they don't get to that point without star quarterback Dante Moore. 

Moore, who was slated to be the number two pick of the NFL draft this offseason after Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Luckily for Ducks fans everywhere, Moore announced shortly after the season that he would be returning to Oregon.

Before he announced his return to Eugene, it was revealed that, through the transfer portal, the Ducks could possibly be getting a replacement for Moore. That transfer was Dylan Raiola, quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. 

Raiola is a talented QB, and many wondered what it would look like in the quarterback room after Moore announced that he was coming back. After spring ball started for the Ducks a couple of days ago, head coach Dan Lanning shared what it's like between the two talented quarterbacks. 

The Ducks opened up spring ball just a couple of days ago, and it gave us all our first peek at this next iteration of Ducks football. This is the period of the season where guys are battling other players in their position groups for playing time. 

While the quarterback position is decided already, that doesn't necessarily mean that Dante Moore won't be pushed. Dylan Raiola, in his time at Nebraska, threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. He adds immense talent and depth to Oregon's quarterback room.

While yes, Raiola was brought in to compete alongside Moore, it was never with the intention of him possibly winning the job. More along the lines of sitting behind Moore for the season while his broken fibula heals.

This isn't new for the Oregon program, however. Even Dante Moore had a similar relationship with former Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Lanning and the Ducks are hoping that Raiola can push Moore in a healthy way to be better, much like Moore did for Gabriel. 

Through just a few days of spring ball, Lanning had this to say regarding teamwide competition even outside of the quarterback room. 

"Every one of these guys cheer for each other’s success...So these guys compete at the highest level, but when they’re out there on the field, they’re hoping for each other’s success because the stronger we are as a team. The better we’re gonna be as a team. So, they’ve worked really well together, just like every position we have out there."

With competition all over the field, the Ducks will be primed for yet another run at the National Championship. 

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