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The addition of Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola was never meant to threaten Dante Moore's starting job with the Oregon Ducks. He wasn't brought on to even be in an open competition. Instead, he was brought on to sit in the shadows for a year and refine his game while rehabbing from a broken fibula.
But that doesn't mean that the former five-star and No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 class isn't going to still push Moore, who would've likely been the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if he'd declared. Competition is key in anything, even if there isn't a real threat of Raiola unseating Moore as the Oregon starter.
After all, Raiola has had his own success in the Big Ten, as he started the past two seasons for the Cornhuskers and threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. But he also had his warts, as he tossed 17 interceptions and struggled with consistency, especially down the stretch of both seasons.
He's following the path that Moore paved, as the former UCLA Bruin sat behind accomplished starter Dillon Gabriel in 2024. And, like Raiola now, Moore pushed Gabriel behind the scenes, leading to the sixth-year senior's best season in college football in being named a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Head coach Dan Lanning saw that healthy competition between Moore and Gabriel and is now seeing the same thing from Raiola and Moore, who's now commanding the role of accomplished starter.
"It’s the same as it is in every room, right?" Lanning said during his first spring press conference. "Guys go out there, competing, making each other better."
There are certainly other positions on the Ducks roster that have loads of competition, but the quarterback spot is different. If everything goes as planned, the only time that Raiola will see this fall is in mop-up duty at the end of blowout wins. There won't be any sort of rotation at the quarterback position. Only one is on the field, ideally for the entirety of the season.
It takes an unselfish individual to come into a program with an established starter, especially considering Raiola already has 22 starts to his name during his career.
So far, it's been a healthy competition for Raiola and Moore, who are rallying for each other's successes for the betterment of the team.
"Every one of these guys cheer for each other’s success," Lanning said. "...So these guys compete at the highest level, but when they’re out there on the field, they’re hoping for each other’s success because the stronger we are as a team. The better we’re gonna be as a team. So, they’ve worked really well together, just like every position we have out there."
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ducks QBs Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola pushing each other to be better
Continue reading...
But that doesn't mean that the former five-star and No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 class isn't going to still push Moore, who would've likely been the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if he'd declared. Competition is key in anything, even if there isn't a real threat of Raiola unseating Moore as the Oregon starter.
After all, Raiola has had his own success in the Big Ten, as he started the past two seasons for the Cornhuskers and threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. But he also had his warts, as he tossed 17 interceptions and struggled with consistency, especially down the stretch of both seasons.
He's following the path that Moore paved, as the former UCLA Bruin sat behind accomplished starter Dillon Gabriel in 2024. And, like Raiola now, Moore pushed Gabriel behind the scenes, leading to the sixth-year senior's best season in college football in being named a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Head coach Dan Lanning saw that healthy competition between Moore and Gabriel and is now seeing the same thing from Raiola and Moore, who's now commanding the role of accomplished starter.
"It’s the same as it is in every room, right?" Lanning said during his first spring press conference. "Guys go out there, competing, making each other better."
There are certainly other positions on the Ducks roster that have loads of competition, but the quarterback spot is different. If everything goes as planned, the only time that Raiola will see this fall is in mop-up duty at the end of blowout wins. There won't be any sort of rotation at the quarterback position. Only one is on the field, ideally for the entirety of the season.
It takes an unselfish individual to come into a program with an established starter, especially considering Raiola already has 22 starts to his name during his career.
So far, it's been a healthy competition for Raiola and Moore, who are rallying for each other's successes for the betterment of the team.
"Every one of these guys cheer for each other’s success," Lanning said. "...So these guys compete at the highest level, but when they’re out there on the field, they’re hoping for each other’s success because the stronger we are as a team. The better we’re gonna be as a team. So, they’ve worked really well together, just like every position we have out there."
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ducks QBs Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola pushing each other to be better
Continue reading...
