Dan Lanning's faith in Oregon's QB room comes down to Dante Moore and Luke Moga after transfer portal fallout
Dan Lanning was adamant the Oregon Ducks would not take in a transfer portal quarterback addition this spring. He reiterated that after the Ducks' spring game last weekend, despite concerns about the positional room as it transitions from Dillon Gabriel. Dante Moore is the most obvious candidate to become the next star at quarterback for […]
Dan Lanning was adamant the Oregon Ducks would not take in a transfer portal quarterback addition this spring. He reiterated that after the Ducks' spring game last weekend, despite concerns about the positional room as it transitions from Dillon Gabriel.
Dante Moore is the most obvious candidate to become the next star at quarterback for the program, and Lanning has reinforced his belief in Moore.
"I like who we have on our roster,” Lanning said. According to On3's J.D. Pickell, Lanning made a $341,000 NIL bet on Moore last year just for the former elite recruit to sit and learn from Lanning and Gabriel.
“Oregon knows quarterbacks. Dan Lanning knows quarterbacks based on his track record, and they love Dante Moore."
“They’ve recruited him twice and then paid him to sit a year. You know how much you got to be in on a quarterback to pay them — I have to believe a pretty good sum of money — to watch somebody else play quarterback while you’re paying the starting quarterback as well on Dillon Gabriel? You got to like Dante Moore.”
Pickell continued to say that he would even put a longshot bet on Moore winning the Heisman Trophy in 2025.
“I would get used to this if I’m an Oregon fan. I would get used to seeing Dante Moore deal darts,” PicKell added. He even teased Heisman-level buzz. “Kaiden Smith and I talking before the show, and Kay’s like, ‘You know what man, I wish you could bet someone being a Heisman finalist because right now I’d bet Dante Moore.’ And y’all to be real, I would. I would ask Kaiden whatever he’s putting down on that, and I would say, ‘Hey, go ahead and lump me into that. Let’s both go in on Dante Moore being a Heisman finalist because I think he’s going to be that good.’”
However, before he can shine on the scoreboard, Moore must contend with a surprising contender: Luke Moga. Everyone was aware of the kid's speed, but during the spring game, he showcased a passing skill set that has fans — and possibly Moore — taking notice.
Moga attempted only 13 passes, yet completed six, including a stunning 56-yard throw to Dillon Gresham that sliced through Oregon’s secondary with ease. He totaled 112 yards on just six completions, translating to an impressive average of 18.6 yards per attempt. It’s still early days, no doubt.
However, if Moga keeps progressing like this, he could transform from a “change-of-pace” option to a genuine QB1 backup.
