UCLA Football: Freshman QB Dante Moore Opens Up About QB Battle Dynamics

Moore recognizes the talent level UCLA's QB room possesses.

Saturday is the day, Bruin fans. Your UCLA Bruins are gearing up for their season opener against Coastal Carolina, which is a much-anticipated matchup. For months, experts and pundits have been speculating on who will be the starting quarterback, and many expected it to be true freshman QB standout Dante Moore. 

Unfortunately for Moore, he did not win the job as head coach Chip Kelly went with redshirt junior Ethan Garbers. Kelly announced Garbers will be the starting QB, but Moore and transfer QB Collin Schlee will get some snaps in as well. 

That's the nature of competition; someone is going to win, and someone will be left hanging dry. Still, Moore is a team player and praised the QB room and the talent level in college when discussing how he lost out on the QB1 job. 

“I know that this quarterback room is really special,” Moore said. “There are many great quarterbacks. … I’m the youngest in the room, so being out here with all these (quarterbacks) … and learning from their mistakes, them telling me stories about how the game goes is a true blessing.”

(via OC Register)

Here’s what UCLA QB Dante Moore had to say ahead of his debut Saturday against Coastal Carolina. pic.twitter.com/gCzYVM0cby

— James H. Williams covers UCLA football (@JHWreporter) August 28, 2023

It's uncertain how many snaps Moore will be for on Saturday, but seeing him display his talents at the next level will be exciting. 

Kelly went in the same direction back in 2018 when he gave the starting spot to Wilton Speight over Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Could history repeat itself in Westwood? 

This is absolutely no shade toward Garbers, but Moore is the guy fans want to see; however, if Garbers is going to help us win football games, then so be it. 

The anticipation for Moore will be at an all-time high, and we cannot wait to see him on the gridiron under center.