Dante Moore's NFL Draft Decision: 'There's no looking back now
Dante Moore has committed to Oregon for a third time, opting to forgo the NFL draft for a second season as the Ducks' QB1.
Moore, a 21-year-old, was widely projected as the No. 2 quarterback in this year's draft class. However, he chose to stay at Oregon, betting on himself to deliver the Ducks' heightened success and level up his game.
The decision caused seismic ramifications in the football world, with many expecting Moore to be one of the first players off the board back in April. He is tied to his latest choice, admitting to second-guessing himself in the aftermath of his head-turning announcement on "SportsCenter."
"Yeah, there was days where I for sure looked back when I first made that decision, because I was kind of just thinking to myself, 'Is this the right way?'" Moore told reporters at Big Ten media days. "But it's the past now. I'm making sure I'm bringing full pressure and applying pressure to this upcoming year. … I kind of feel like there's no looking back now. Just got to keep applying pressure."
Moore's decision is not without its challenges. Oregon has back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances that have started with national title promise and ended with blowout defeats. Each time, the Ducks bowed out to the eventual national champion.
The Ducks clocked out 13-2 last season, with their pair of defeats coming versus the undefeated Hoosiers. In both outings, Indiana's stifling defense got after Moore, with his struggles under duress flaring up and being on full display in the CFP.
Moore has been working on bettering his pre- and post-snap reads this offseason. He's also added muscle mass to his frame, now weighing 220 pounds after bowing out to Indiana in the playoff at 203 pounds.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was bursting with delight over Moore's decision. "Yeah, I was pretty excited. I think maybe jumped up on the table. It was a good day for the Ducks," Lanning noted.
Moore's teammates were also thrilled with the news. Ducks tight end Jamari Johnson said he talked to his signal-caller briefly in the lead-up to Moore making his decision.
"It was just like, 'Man, this is your life. It's your decision,'" recalled Johnson. "So it's like, 'If you're ever ready to take that next step, then take it. I believe in you, bro, but if not, let's stay here and let's bring back home a championship for the Oregon Ducks.'"
Moore's decision has been met with mixed reactions from other Big Ten QBs. However, Moore himself ascribed preparation as the biggest factor in him coming back to Oregon for one last hurrah.
Moore was asked point-blank if the New York Jets possessing the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft affected his decision. He said no.
Moore's focus now shifts to the upcoming season, where he'll look to lead the Ducks to a championship. With his sights set on the top prize, Moore is ready to put his decision to rest and move forward.
Source: Yahoo Sports