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UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Should Name Dante Moore The Bruins' Starting QB

The freshman's performance on Saturday should put an end to any competition.

Matt Wagner

UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Should Name Dante Moore The Bruins' Starting QB
UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Should Name Dante Moore The Bruins' Starting QB /
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It's honestly ridiculous that things have gotten to this point. 

UCLA football began their preparation for the 2023 season looking to find the replacement at quarterback for Dorian Thompson-Robinson. 

Following in his shoes is no easy task. The four-year starter from Las Vegas developed into one of the best quarterbacks in UCLA history before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in this past year's draft. 

But nonetheless, that task needed to be done. 

And the Bruins had a true freshman that was ready to take the reigns. 

No. 4 overall prospect Dante Moore committed to UCLA on December 19, 2022, becoming the highest ranked signal caller to ever pledge to the Bruins in the process. 

Moore came to southern California as the inevitable heir apparent to Thompson-Robinson and it seemed that the transition from one era of UCLA football to the next would be smooth. 

That was until the Bruins ended fall camp with the question of who would be the permanent starting quarterback unresolved. 

Head coach Chip Kelly named redshirt junior Ethan Garbers the official starter for their season opener against Coastal Carolina, but said that Garbers, Moore, and graduate transfer Collin Schlee would each play. 

Schlee didn't see the field because of time constraints and Garbers looked... shaky. 

He didn't do anything spectacular -- as was usual during his brief playing time as Thompson-Robinson's backup -- and threw two interceptions on his night. 

Then the highly-touted Moore came in, changed the course of the game, led the Bruins to a go-ahead touchdown on his first drive, and threw this perfect pass to wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant in the fourth quarter to begin to seize control of the game. 

That throw felt like, for all intents and purposes, the symbolic changing of the guard from Thompson-Robinson to Moore -- a change that Kelly should act on. 

Moore looked unfazed by the moment -- a questionable redzone interception notwithstanding -- and ready to lead the Bruins both next week and into the future. 

The 18-year-old recorded 143 yards on 7-of-12 passing, more than enough to complement UCLA's strong run game. 

As of now, Kelly intends to continue the competition against San Diego State next week, and while Schlee was unfortunately not able to get on the field, Moore's performance should end all debate.

The freshman won the competition -- as Thompson-Robinson did -- on Saturday night, and Kelly should make the inevitable official. 

If nothing else, UCLA needs stability at the quarterback spot soon. A three-man race won't suffice for long, and it shouldn't have in the opener. 

And Moore's play put an end to all doubt. He deserves to be the unencumbered starter both next week and going forward. 

UCLA football is beginning a new era, and their new kid on the block should be the face of it. Just as Thompson-Robinson was before him.

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Matt Wagner
MATT WAGNER

Matt Wagner was born and raised in southern California, and he lived there before moving to Colorado and getting his B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 2022. He relocated back to southern California in 2023 and is looking forward to covering the teams that mean so much to his home area. Some of his past work is in Bleacher Report, Dodgers Tailgate, and, most recently, Colorado Buffaloes Wire. Aside from writing, you can probably catch him petting the nearest dog or eating some good Mexican food.

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