Dante Moore has big shoes to fill, replaces 30-TD Oregon football legend in QB rankings

It's Dante Moore's team, and no one else can say otherwise. Succeeding Dillon Gabriel this fall in Eugene, Moore has a chance to take a big step forward after watching Dillon Gabriel do his thing by helping lead the Oregon Ducks to a Big Ten title win and a first-round College Football Playoff bye.

Whether Moore is the answer in Eugene remains to be seen. However, SN's Bill Bender showed Moore some love in his top 25 quarterback rankings at No. 23 and wrote Moore's potential is as far as he takes it.

"The 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback should be in line for a breakout season with Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein as a result," Bender wrote.

The Ducks were a scoring machine this past season, putting up over 30 points in at least 10 games and saw Gabriel throw for over 200 yards in every game except one. It's unclear whether Moore can match the talent level of Gabriel, but the former five-star is in prime position to leave his own legacy over the next few years.

"Moore struggled with turnovers with the Bruins as a freshman, and he will have to be more of a threat in the running game," Bender wrote. "Given the success Gabriel and Bo Nix had with Oregon after transferring, Moore is a logical candidate to have a breakout season with the Ducks."

Moore's confidence level to take over for Gabriel couldn't be at a higher level, telling 247Sports during spring practice that he always envisioned his opportunity would come.

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"I came in talking like I was the starting quarterback," Moore said. "I mean, we pushed each other in the weight room, in the facility, just every day, but I feel like just overall. I mean, understanding what my job was like last year, like I said, Dillon did a really good job competing and winning a lot of football games, but I came in the same way as him right now."

The biggest adjustment for Moore, though, is meeting high expectations. Moore said, though, that his goals continue to remain how he can get better holistically.

"I mean, he's done a really good job," Moore said about Stein as the offensive coordinator. "He's taught me a lot concept-wise, just being out there on the football field, communicating, and leading just the way. Seeing the defense better, but overall, he's been a great coach. I appreciate him a lot."

Moore will have a chance to leave his UCLA Bruins stint in the rear-view mirror come August, as the Ducks seem poised for yet another breakout season.