ESPN Says Quarterback Battle is Oregon's Biggest Question in Spring
Spring football is getting closer for many of the top college football programs across the country. Oregon is expected to get started some time next month, as Dan Lanning and the Ducks look to improve on a 12-2 season in 2023 as they head to the Big Ten.
ESPN recently released their biggest questions for college football's top 25 teams in spring football, and Paolo Uggetti doesn't think Oregon's quarterback battle is as cut and dry as most. You can read the full story here.
Here's what Ugetti had to say in his portion on the Ducks.
"Bo Nix's years of eligibility have finally expired, and Oregon will need to play a new quarterback this coming season. In some ways, the biggest spring question for the Ducks has already been answered as coach Dan Lanning & Co. pounced on the transfer portal to bring in not only Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma but five-star recruit Dante Moore from UCLA.
Coming off a 3,660-yard, 30-touchdown season at Oklahoma, Gabriel appears to be the likely choice to start, but Moore's potential has clearly been unrealized through one season. Moore struggled to lead the Bruins in his first year but showed flashes of what made him one of the top high school quarterbacks in his class. Oregon has national title aspirations, and answering its quarterback question (as well as outfitting an offense around said quarterback) will go a long way toward helping the Ducks actually hoist the trophy'.
With only one year of eligibility remaining, it'd certainly shock Duck fans everywhere if Gabriel doesn't end up as Oregon's starter for their first game of the 2024 season On August 31 against Idaho.
He's got loads of experience and production on his side and he looks like a perfect fit for Will Stein's offense in Eugene. He's mobile, accurate, and has the ability to create some magic when the original play breaks down.
Quarterback Dillion Gabriel rushes against the Texas Longhorns.
© Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws a pass before facing the BYU Cougars.
I think it's probably a stretch to say Dante Moore will end up the starter in 2024, but maybe we'll get to see a good sample of how he fits into Stein's offense with four free games to use before sacrificing a redshirt. He played in nine games and threw more than 200 passes, which is plenty of experience to give him a taste of how fast the college game is.
While his results were by no means spectacular, it's hard to think of a quarterback that's in a better position for success than the Detroit native. He can learn behind one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football who will has Heisman Trophy potential and ideally maintain his redshirt.
Then when 2025 comes around he'll compete with Austin Novosad and Luke Moga for the starting job.
I think it's pretty likely Gabriel ends up as Oregon's QB1, but the skillset and potential of Moore should continue to intrigue Duck fans, who will get their first look at the former five-star passer when Oregon holds its spring game in Eugene on April 27.
