Recruiting insider calls Oregon the team to watch in race to sign 5-star QB
The No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks in the 2023 class are off the board, committed elsewhere. The No. 1 quarterback is out of reach. But it seems there’s a new team to beat for the No. 4 quarterback in the class.
During a recent edition of Wiltfong’s Whiparound, 247Sports recruiting director Steve Wiltfong revealed that Oregon is moving into a strong position to win the signature of Detroit (Mich.) quarterback Dante Moore. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound signal-caller is a 5-star prospect in the 247 Composite, the 12th-ranked overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, and fresh off a dazzling performance at the Overtime OT7 league.
Here’s what Wiltfong had to say on Moore and his recruitment:
“Regarding Dante Moore—Notre Dame lean for last five months, at least—Notre Dame, I think they’re trying to claw their way back into this one. There’s communication, they would still love to have him as part of their 2023 class. But I think that this recruitment has really changed, in talking to people around it, in talking to Dante out at the event. My take on it is you’ve got Oregon in the best position. I think the Ducks are the one that I’m watching the closest right now. Now, this is a fluid recruitment and things can change. But he took his official visit out to Oregon for the spring game. He’s at Texas A&M this weekend, so we’ll see if the Aggies can make a move.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqDgFf-yrX8&t=46s
Oregon has gotten one of the only two official visits Moore has taken so far (LSU the other). He’s also set to visit Texas A&M soon.
Behind Dan Lanning, the Ducks have been big-game hunting in the quarterback market this cycle. They were after Tennessee commit Nico Iamaleava. Jaden Rashada has been a target for some time now. The Ducks have also been in on 4-star Avery Johnson, who will take an official visit to Eugene this upcoming weekend.
But Moore is the big fish.
He’s been a varsity starter since he was a freshman, and 247Sports’ Allen Trieu believes he’s a future first-rounder in the NFL:
Has played well against top competition and in clutch situations in big games. Mature, polished, does not appear to rattle easily. Stands in against the rush and will deliver throws while taking hits. Does a nice job of reading coverages and does well throwing into windows against zone coverages. Throws with good touch down the field. Can fire it in there when he needs to. Has good arm strength but maybe not a big big cannon. Solid athlete who has added more mobility to his game as the years have gone on, but is not likely to be a big threat as a designed runner, but can do a little bit of that if needed. Physical traits are solid to good, but it is his intangible traits that are elite. Works extremely hard and that total package projects him to be a multi-year college starter and someone who can be an early draft choice.
One potentially key factor working in the Ducks’ favor here: new offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham has a relationship with Moore that traces back to his time at Florida State, where he recruited the Michigan quarterback for the Seminoles. Now, he’s hoping to sell Moore on the complete opposite end of the country.
Sounds like things are going well.