Dante Moore called up Dan Lanning in December and got Oregon State's attention again.
But the two didn't talk about football, at least not at first.
The former UCLA quarterback, who was previously committed to Lanning and the Ducks, entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023 regular season and immediately reached out to Oregon's coaches.
“I called him, really just to check on his welfare,” Moore said Thursday. “Sadly, my mom has breast cancer and I played through it all season. The first few things I asked were to check on my mother.”
Moore's mother has recovered. His own personal growth prospects appear to be trending in the same direction.
Moore's road to Oregon wasn't the smoothest. Moore is a former five-star recruit in the class of 2023 who was ranked No. 2 overall in the nation by ESPN and No. 3 overall by 247Sports.
He was verbally traded to the Ducks throughout the fall of 2022, but was traded to the Bruins just before the early signing period began in December of that year.
The Detroit native said he had a change of heart after Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham was named Arizona State's head coach in November 2022.
“As a quarterback, your OC has to be your best friend,” Moore said, adding that he and Dillingham's successor at Oregon, Will Stein, rushed to build a relationship, but ultimately ended up at UCLA. He added that he chose to sign and coach. Chip Kelly.
Dante Moore plays through mistakes at UCLA
Moore, who the Bruins listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, appeared in nine games and started five for UCLA last season. He completed 114 of 213 passes (53.5%) for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
He started his career by throwing for 615 yards, seven TDs, and one interception in the Bruins' first three games, which started 3-0.
After that, harsh trials continued for the new students. In back-to-back games against then-No. 11 Utah State, then-No. 13 Washington State and 15-year-old Oregon State, he threw for 689 yards, 3 TDs, 6 interceptions, and 16 interceptions. Sucked.
He also returned an interception for a touchdown in each of those games.
“I felt like a freshman in high school,” Moore said. “I remember when I was a freshman in high school, I threw 12 picks and I was like, 'Damn, what are you doing?'” But at the end of my senior year, I I threw two picks. And at the end of the day, it's about development. College football is hard. ”
As the season ended, Coach Moore said there was a sense that change was coming around the program, and sure enough, Kelly left Westwood for Ohio State in early February to be the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator. .
Moore was transferred to Oregon State in mid-December, by which time he had already passed away.
“When I reached the portal…I already knew where I was going,” Moore said. “(Lanning) just came over to check on me, laugh, joke, and visit. Then I knew it was time to go.”
Dante Moore learns from Dillon Gabriel
Before Moore was transferred, the Ducks had already signed Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel. He is in his sixth year as a senior and has started 49 career games and enters 2024 tied for fourth in NCAA history in total career touchdowns (152) and seventh in total yards (15,925). 8th in passing yards (14,865) and 8th in passing touchdowns (125).
Gabriel will be the presumed one-year replacement for Bo Nix, a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist who led the Ducks to a 12-2 record and a Fiesta Bowl championship.
“You know, DG, he's been around college football for quite a while now,” Moore said. “Really, when I first came here, I didn't feel any disrespect or bad feelings, and I'm just grateful to be around him. He taught me so much, I also asked him a lot of questions.”
Moore said he competes with Gabriel every day and is excited to be in the Oregon State locker room, even if it takes another year to get there.
Still, he said he has no regrets about the trip to Eugene.
“I was really lucky to play college football as a true freshman at 18,” Moore said. “I learned a lot and made a lot of mistakes, but at the end of the day, all I can do is learn.”
Follow Chris Hansen on X@chansen_RG or send an email tochansen@registerguard.com.
