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May 31, 2026 5:29 PM
Shedding his passive freshman persona, the Ducks' star signal-caller Dante Moore is embracing a vocal leadership role to master Oregon’s offense and solidify his status as a top NFL prospect.
While taking three sacks and numerous hits, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore appeared to be passive towards his teammate's mistakes in a 56-22 loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl in January.
It wasn't long after the loss that Moore decided to return to Oregon for another season, forgoing a chance to be drafted in the first round this year.
Moore needed to work on a few quarterbacking issues like handling pressure, getting the ball out of his hands quickly and limiting turnovers.
He's also working on a change that should help his future NFL career.
Quarterbacks at the next level are expected to be leaders, and Moore will need to feel comfortable giving his teammates direction, and criticism for him to succeed at Oregon this season and in the NFL.
Per Matt Zenitz & Chris Hummer of CBS Sports, Moore appears to be the top quarterback prospect for the 2027 draft. He's been more "vocal" and willing to hold his teammates "accountable" during spring practice.
"As for Moore, the consensus among NFL front-office sources CBS Sports has spoken to recently is that he's the top quarterback prospect for next year's draft," they wrote. "One NFL front office official, who recently evaluated Moore, went as far as saying Moore's tape was even better than expected.
"Moore's improved since last season, too, with sources indicating that he's taken a step forward as a leader and seems more comfortable being vocal and holding other players accountable."
In April, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said he's noticed Moore progressing this spring, nothing he's Moore of a "coach" for the offense than season than just a quarterback.
"I'm very confident," Lanning said of Moore, via the Eugene Register-Guard. "He checked a play today in practice that we didn't even have tagged with potential check because of the look he saw.
"So it's great to see from him that he's really out there operating as a coach on the field. We just gotta get everybody else operating at that same level."
As a first-year starter in 2025, Moore wasn't ready to have that level of command.
In Year 2, it will be expected.
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