Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has decided to return to the Ducks next season rather than declare for the NFL draft.
Moore announced his decision Wednesday on ESPN.
“When it comes to me just making my decision, of course I want to feel most prepared and do what’s best for my situation, especially as a quarterback,” said Moore, who turns 21 in May. “And with my decision, it’s been very tough. I prayed a lot about it, talked to many people — my mentors and people I just look up to — and with that being said, of course I’ll be coming back to Oregon for one more year, being able to play for the Oregon Ducks and reach our goal and be national champions.”
This season, his second with the Ducks and third in college, Moore completed nearly 72% of his throws for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as Oregon finished 13-2 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play while finishing one win short of the national championship game.
Moore had been forecast to be the second quarterback selected in the NFL draft in April, behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner.
The No. 5 Ducks lost 56-22 to Mendoza’s No. 1 Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff’s Peach Bowl semifinal Friday night. Moore had three crucial turnovers in the first half at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, leading to three Indiana touchdowns that gave the Hoosiers a commanding 35-7 lead at halftime.
Moore completed 24 of 39 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns against the Hoosiers, who also handed the Ducks their other loss this season, 30-20 at Oregon on Oct. 11.
Moore began his college career at UCLA in 2023 but left after one season to sign with Oregon. He backed up Dillon Gabriel last season, when the Ducks won the Big Ten title and also reached the CFP, before moving up to the starting job when Gabriel departed for the NFL.
“I feel like when it comes to me pushing my teammates to make sure that they’re at their best, I can become a better leader,” Moore said about his goals in returning. “And when it comes to my playing style, (it’s) just dissecting defenses, being able to be comfortable as I see it if I see a defense that I know I’ve seen this covered before and how to attack it.
“I’m still 20 years old, so I’m still young, and I have a lot of memories to make out here in college. I’m excited to be around the guys.”
Oregon fourth-year head coach Dan Lanning said after the Peach Bowl loss that he hoped to have Moore return.
“Dante has been exceptional,” Lanning said. “It’s gone right for us 13 times. It didn’t go right tonight. You can’t let that overshadow (the season). Every one of us has unbelievable disappointment. Learn from it.”
Moore’s decision comes after former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola announced he’d be transferring to Oregon and Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman declared for the NFL draft.
Sadiq had a team-high 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns this season, his first as a starter, and he is expected to be a first-round draft pick. Thieneman finished the season with 96 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, as well as five pass breakups and two interceptions.
The players who have announced they will return to the Ducks include offensive Iapani Laloulu — a finalist this season for the Rimington Trophy, which honors the top center in the Football Bowl Subdivision — tight end Jamari Johnson, and defensive ends Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei.
“At the end of the day,” Moore said, “I feel like I can still learn so much more. And of course, as a kid, since I was 4 years old, I’ve dreamed about being in the NFL. But this team, we’ve been through a lot and a lot of people are returning, and so I feel like we have exciting things coming this year. And I’m excited to keep pushing my team.”