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Heisman for Dante Moore? Tez Johnson sets high expectations for Oregon QB in 2025
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Heisman Trophy candidates emerge in the offseason but Heisman contenders are made during the year. When ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote a “way-too-early 2025 Heisman contenders” piece for ESPN last month, Dante Moore’s name wasn’t mentioned. When we did a “way-too-early names to know” piece, Moore was a footnote.
Teammate Tez Johnson said following the Rose Bowl that Moore will be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy next season as Oregon’s starting quarterback.
“He’ll be a Heisman finalist next year, 100%,” Johnson said. “It’s something you haven’t seen yet. That boy can throw a ball like no other. I’ve never seen nothing like it. He’s so ready. He’s so ready to play. You can just tell. Like, we can put the 2s in at practice and they go out there and look just like the 1s.”
Moore backed up Heisman finalist Dillon Gabriel this season. He threw just 8 passes all year, preserving a redshirt in what was his second year of college.
A native of Detroit, Moore was once committed to the Ducks as a 5-star high school recruit but flipped that commitment late and signed with UCLA. He made 5 starts and played in 9 games as a true freshman with the Bruins, splitting time with Ethan Garbers in the UCLA backfield.
Moore struggled as a first-year passer. The promise was obvious. He threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns in his second career game. But he was picked off 9 times and ended the year with 3 multi-interception games.
When he entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season, he said he wanted to go somewhere that would develop him. He signed with Oregon and spent a year learning under the NCAA’s all-time leader in career starts and touchdowns responsible for (Gabriel).
The Ducks are expected to hand the reins over to Moore in 2025. He’ll have to beat out Austin Novosad for the job, but most believe he’ll do exactly that and open the year as the starter. He won’t have Johnson to throw to, but he will have a slew of young, promising receivers. Five-star 2023 signee Jurrion Dickey is waiting in the wings. Four-star 2024 signees Jeremiah McClellan and Ryan Pellum are as well. Five-star 2025 signee Dakorien Moore is expected to walk in the door and immediately make an impact. Oregon could bring back Evan Stewart, and Justius Lowe is a rising sophomore.
Given the way the Ducks have recruited, the pieces will be there. Oregon fans are hoping Moore can make the most of them.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
