Dante Moore enters transfer portal: Touted UCLA QB to explore options after rocky freshman season

UCLA quarterback Dante Moore is entering the transfer portal after an up-and-down freshman season with the Bruins, he told 247Sports on Thursday. Moore arrived as one of the most-celebrated UCLA signees of the modern era and made five starts, but he struggled with ball security in league play and ultimately lost the job late in the year.

Moore finished the season 114 of 213 passing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions as the Bruins wrapped the regular season at 7-5 following a 6-2 start. He netted -84 yards rushing and lost three fumbles behind poor pass protection. The Bruins ranked No. 122 nationally with 42 sacks allowed at the conclusion of the regular season.

Still, there were glimpses from Moore of the potential that made him a five-star prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect, per 247Sports, in the Class of 2023. In his first start, Moore completed 17 of 27 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns in a win at San Diego State.

But once Pac-12 play arrived, the Detroit native struggled to adjust to the heightened level of competition. On UCLA’s first play from scrimmage in a 14-7 loss at Utah on Sept. 23, the Utes’ Karene Reid intercepted Moore and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. Things never improved from there; the Bruins wound up playing a game of musical chairs at quarterback with Ethan Garbers and Collin Schlee also logging starts in 2023.

Impact on UCLA

Moore’s departure leaves a major question at quarterback for the Bruins as they depart the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. For the first five seasons of his tenure, coach Chip Kelly had Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the position. The two helped the Bruins build from 3-9 in 2018 to 9-4 in 2022 before Thompson-Robinson exhausted his eligibility and landed with the Cleveland…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/dante-moore-enters-transfer-portal-touted-ucla-qb-to-explore-options-after-rocky-freshman-season/

Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2023-11-30 20:39:56

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