Mel Kiper calls for Dante Moore to return to Oregon for 2026 season

Through three games this season, Dante Moore has been more than a worthy successor to Dillon Gabriel at Oregon. Moore has led the Ducks to a 3-0 record with dominant wins over Montana State, Oklahoma State and Northwestern, passing for 657 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

Moore seems to finally be playing up to the level of his high school expectations, as he was tabbed the No. 2 overall player in the country in the Class of 2023. Due to his strong start to the season, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. revealed that he thinks Moore should return to Oregon next year. If he does so, he believes that Moore could be one of the best quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“I think the opponents have kind of allowed him to settle into this game after the struggles he had at UCLA,” Kiper said. “Will Stein, the (offensive) coordinator, has done a great job with him. I think another year, even if he finishes this year and he’s great, that’s just one year as a starter. You don’t want that number to be that low coming out. Go back to Oregon for another season. You know the talent is gonna be around you. You’re gonna have talented kids coming every year.”

Kiper Jr. labels Moore as “a guy to watch”

Kiper Jr, who has been evaluating the NFL Draft since 1984, knows what he’s talking about when evaluating quarterbacks. If he is impressed by Moore, he surely is doing something right.

“Dante Moore is a guy to watch,” Kiper Jr. said last week. “Dante Moore was ranked No. 2 overall at ESPN300 behind just Malachi Nelson. Moore was No. 2, Arch Manning was No. 4. Dante Moore started out at UCLA and it didn’t go so well. Had nine interceptions and had a pick-six in three straight games I believe. Now he’s sitting there as the quarterback at Oregon with Will Stein, the great coordinator who’s gonna be a head coach soon at 35 years of age. Former Louisville quarterback.”

“Who did Will Stein have? Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and now Dante Moore. Dante Moore is a third year sophomore because he redshirted behind Gabriel last year. He has another year and he can have that year because you think about the NIL at Oregon. He goes back for another year even though he’s draft eligible this year. Dante Moore, No. 2 coming out of high school, will be high on that big board. He’ll be way up there.”

This weekend will pit Moore and the Ducks against in-state rival Oregon State, who have opened the season with three consecutive losses. If he can continue to show off some incredible play this season, he’ll continue to gain even more love from Kiper Jr. and other analysts moving forward.