The first 5-star signee of the Chip Kelly era at UCLA will join the program looking to become a first-year starter.

Dante Moore signed with the Bruins this week during the Early Signing Period, capping off a frantic closing stretch to a recruitment that looked all but wrapped up for months. Moore was committed to the Oregon Ducks throughout the entire 2022 season, rebuked interest from Michigan State, then took a visit to Westwood and was sold on flipping from Kelly’s old home to his new one.

With the graduation of Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA will look for a new full-time starter at quarterback this offseason for the first time since Kelly came to town. And Moore will have his say in how that competition goes.

“We expect everybody to compete for every starting job in every season,” Kelly told reporters this week when he was asked if Moore would be expected to compete for the job.

It was a nothing answer to an obvious question. Of course Moore will compete for the job. A great number of industry insiders speculated that Moore wanted the opportunity to play right away. With Bo Nix returning for his fifth year of ball at Oregon, that opportunity wouldn’t be there in Eugene. With DTR ending his five-year career this season, that opportunity is right there for the taking in Westwood.

And Moore looks readymade for the college game.

“I think he’s a really mature young man. He’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Kelly said. “He’s about all the right things. He’s about the team culture. He’s about personal development. He’s about being the best version of himself. We clicked and hit it off from that standpoint.

“He’s got a tremendous upside. He’s a really skilled football player, but I really think his mindset is what makes Dante special. He’s a driven young man that really, really wants to be special and works at it.”

Moore completed 69.4% of his passes as a senior for 2,392 yards, 32 touchdowns, and three interceptions in 2022. That was a year after setting school records for yardage (3,050) and passing touchdowns (40) as a junior. He threw for 9,880 yards and 135 touchdowns with 20 interceptions in his varsity career.

He was named the Michigan Associated Press Division 3-4 Player of the Year in 2022 and the MaxPreps High School Michigan Player of the Year in 2021.