Ducks Digest

Dillon Gabriel Reveals Opinion On Oregon Ducks Quarterback Competition, Dante Moore

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel participated at Oregon's Pro Day earlier this week, and Gabriel was asked about his thoughts on the future of the Ducks quarterback room with Dante Moore and Austin Novosad.

Cory Pappas

Jan 29, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) talks with media members after Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Jan 29, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) talks with media members after Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
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Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel was at Oregon’s Pro Day earlier this week. Gabriel is entering the 2025 NFL Draft and is a projected middle round selection. 

Gabriel was asked about his thought on the Ducks team in 2025 as they look to replace Gabriel at quarterback.

Dillon Gabriel High On Ducks Quarterbacks Moving Forward

Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) pauses after practice during Senior Bow
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon (8) pauses after practice during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Gabriel played his final collegiate season for the Ducks in 2024 after playing his previous five seasons at UCF and Oklahoma. He led the Ducks to a Big Ten Championship and the No. 1 seed in the College Football playoff last season. In his lone season in Eugene, Gabriel threw for 3,857 yards and touchdowns while rushing for another 149 yards and seven touchdowns.

He was asked about which Oregon players to look out for in 2025, and Gabriel has an eye on the quarterback room with Dante Moore and Austin Novosad.

“I think whoever it may be, I think they’re all ready for it. I’ve been around them,” Gabriel said. “I’m a believer in everyone in that room, not just their physical skills…the people they are, the work they put in and shoot, they pushed me day to day.”

Gabriel noted that both of them were a big help when he was starting and they’ll be “just fine” next season. 

“I think we had a healthy, competitive nature in that room, and I felt supported throughout the whole year,” Gabriel said. “In many rooms, there’s guys that look over your back hoping for negative results, but this guys were all about the teams success…They’ll be just fine.”

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Dante Moore In Line To Start For Oregon?

Nov 30, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the second half against the
Nov 30, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

It is expected that Dante Moore will be the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks when the season kicks off in the fall. Moore transferred to Oregon prior to the 2024 season and sat behind Dillon Gabriel. Before that, Moore was at UCLA his freshman year in 2023. He played nine games and threw for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions. Moore only made a few appearances for Oregon in 2024, throwing just eight total passes.

Starting Moore will be a new approach used by Ducks coach Dan Lanning. In Lanning's first three seasons at the helm in Eugene, he has relied on veteran quarterbacks straight from the transfer portal. Current Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had three years of college ball experience before he transferred to Oregon in 2022. Nix was the starter for each of Lanning's first two seasons, and had a lot of success. Nix was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Denver.

After the departure of Nix, Oregon turned to Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel was entering his sixth collegiante season. Now with Moore, there is more of an unknown. However, there is major potential and he has all the tools around him needed to succeed.

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Cory Pappas
CORY PAPPAS

Cory Pappas is sports writer for USC Trojans On SI and Oregon Ducks On SI. Since starting in March of 2024, he has been writing breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and more across College Sports, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympics for Total Apex Sports. In addition to writing, Cory is also a sports data scout for Sportradar. He covers live sporting events ranging from college athletics to semi-pro and professional. Before joining the industry, Cory graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022. He ran track for Oregon's club Track and Field team. Before Oregon, he played varsity basketball and track and field in high school in Walnut Creek, CA. Cory is using his lifelong passion for sports and writing together.

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