Moore Lovin': Oregon's Dan Lanning Dishes on What Makes Dante, Dakorien Special

Oregon’s Dante and Dakorien Moore aren’t related, but their approach to the game reveals striking similarities.

In an interview on "The Joel Klatt Show," head coach Dan Lanning highlighted the work his quarterback and wide receiver have put into the overlooked details — the kind that’s helped fuel Oregon's fast start to the 2025 season. He pointed to Dante Moore's growth since transferring from UCLA, noting that the third-year quarterback has been stellar in his first season as the Ducks' starter.

"The work has made Dante different," Lanning said. "I think about it myself, like what was I like as a coach when I started coaching? I wasn’t very good. … Things change over time. Dante’s a great example of someone who’s grown over time, learned how to prep and learned the answers to what defenses are doing. 

"I think you look at a guy his freshman year, it’s like, ‘OK, these protections are a little bit different. These packages are a little bit different.’ Now, you’re looking at a guy who is calm within the chaos and makes big moments seem small with the way he handles them." 

Before sitting behind Dillon Gabriel last season, Moore got a chance to start at UCLA in 2023. As a five-star freshman, he faced challenges, finishing the year with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions — including throwing a pick-six in three consecutive games.

Through the first three games of the 2025 season, Moore has emerged as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. He has completed 78.1% of his passes for 657 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception so far this year. 

While those individual numbers might not pop out, it’s clear that Moore is in command of his team's offense. Oregon has scored a touchdown on 17 of the 22 drives he’s been on the