Where Dante Moore, newest Ducks stand among the top-rated transfers in Dan Lanning era
Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks kicked off a very busy week of recruiting with an incredibly busy Monday, landing three new players via the transfer portal and bolstering their roster for the 2024 season.
With Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel already in the fold, the Ducks added the likes of Northwest Missouri State RB Jay Harris, Indiana OL Matthew Bedford, and finally, UCLA QB Dante Moore as the nightcap.
With these four incoming transfers, the Ducks have found ways to improve at major positions of need this offseason, with more improvements to come as well.
So where do these new Ducks rank among the 27 (non-specialist) Oregon transfers in the Lanning era? There are two ways to look at it. For starters, you can take into account the 247Sports Transfer Portal rankings. However, those rankings don’t always hold true to what we see playing out on the field — for instance, Bo Nix was a 3-star prospect in the portal, who finished his college career as a Heisman Trophy finalist in New York.
For good measure, I added my own rankings based on how good each player ended up being in Eugene.
With all of that being said, let’s take a look at the best transfers that the Ducks have landed since Lanning has been here, and see where the new trio mixes in:
Editor’s Note: Jay Harris is transferring from the DII ranks, so he does not have a 247Sports Transfer Portal Rating and does not make our transfer rankings. Don’t take that as meaning that he is not talented and well-qualified to be a major difference-maker for the Ducks in 2024.
QB Dante Moore
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9500)
Career Production: 1,610 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: N/A
Analysis: It makes sense that Dante Moore is at the top of the rankings as far as hype and ratings go, but he has a lot yet to prove when it comes to on-field production. Still, it’s impressive that Moore comes in as the highest-rated transfer in the Lanning era, touching down in Eugene as the No. 3 overall player and No. 2 QB in the 2024 transfer portal.
EDGE Jordan Burch
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9400)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 33 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 7th
Analysis: Burch was highly rated when coming to Eugene, and he’s been great in 2023. It looks like he is headed off to the NFL after this season, so his contributions will be capped after one year with the Ducks. I’ve definitely got him in the top half of my transfer rankings.
OT Ajani Cornelius
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9200)
Production at Oregon: 13 Games, 0 sacks, 11 pressures allowed in 473 attempts
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 8th
Analysis: Ajani Cornelius was the No. 1 rated OT in the transfer portal last year, and he lived up to the billing in Eugene for the 2023 season. He’s currently weighing a decision to return to Eugene or head to the NFL, with some buzz that he could be considering one more year at the collegiate level. Should he come back, he’s got a great chance to move up in my transfer rankings.
RB Bucky Irving
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9100)
Production at Oregon: 26 games, 328 rushes, 2,121 yards, 20 total TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 3rd
Analysis: I don’t think it’s right to put Bucky Irving up at No. 1 on the transfer list, but you could definitely argue that he belongs at No. 2. With the production he has had since coming to Eugene, it’s clear that Irving was among the biggest stars that Lanning got out of the portal. He will likely be off to the NFL this offseason, or else he’d surely grab the No. 2 spot.
S Evan Williams
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9100)
Production at Oregon: 12 games, 79 tackles, 5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 5th
Analysis: Evan Williams was a sought-after player in the portal, but it wasn’t hard for the Ducks to get him thanks to the connection with his brother, Bennett. Williams had a great season for the Ducks, leading the team in tackles in his final year of eligibility.
QB Dillon Gabriel
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9100)
Career Production: 14,865 yards, 125 TD, 26 INT
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: N/A
Analysis: Of course, Gabriel can’t be ranked here because we don’t know how productive he will be in Eugene. However, if he plays up to expectations based on what we’ve seen from him at Oklahoma and UCF, I have a feeling that he could be up near the top of the list when all is said and done.
WR Traeshon Holden
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9100)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 32 catches, 383 yards, 6 total TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 13th
Analysis: Traeshon Holden’s transfer ranking was higher than I remembered, but he didn’t quite see the production that was expected in 2023, largely due to large target shares taken by both Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson. If Holden sticks around for another year in Eugene, he can definitely rise up the rankings.
CB Christian Gonzalez
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9000)
Production at Oregon: 12 games, 50 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 INT, 7 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 2nd
Analysis: I debated between Christian Gonzalez and Bucky Irving for the No. 2 spot on this list, but ultimately gave it to Gonzalez. Going in the first round of the NFL Draft and being an instant difference-maker with the New England Patriots shows just how valuable he was for the Ducks last year.
LB Jestin Jacobs
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9000)
Production at Oregon: 7 games, 31 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 12th
Analysis: We didn’t get to see all that Jestin Jacobs had to offer in 2023 because of injuries that kept him off the field for the first half of the season, but we saw how promising he can be, and if he returns in 2023, which I’m told is likely, then he can certainly climb up these rankings quickly.
OL Junior Angilau
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247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9000)
Production at Oregon: 2 games played, 0 pressures in 3 opportunities
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 22nd
Analysis: It was a tough year for Junior Angilau, who dealt with injuries in the offseason and was never able to get up to speed. He is out of collegiate eligibility going forward.
WR Gary Bryant Jr.
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
247Sports Transfer Rating: 4-star (0.9000)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 26 catches, 380 yards, 3 TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 15th
Analysis: Gary Bryant Jr. had less production in 2023 than many expected, but I think that with another year in the system he can step up and be a bigger part of the offense, rising up these rankings a bit.
CB Khyree Jackson
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8900)
Production at Oregon: 12 games, 34 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sakcs, 3 INT, 7 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 6th
Analysis: Much like Christian Gonzalez, Khyree Jackson came to Eugene and was an instant-impact player, providing lockdown coverage in the secondary for the Ducks. In his one year at Oregon, he certainly made a difference.
CB Nikko Reed
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247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8900)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 20 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 6 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 16th
Analysis: Nikko Reed certainly benefited from the Christian Gonzalez comparisons coming to Oregon from Colorado, and while he didn’t have a massive role in the defense this year, I think that could change and grow going forward with another year in Eugene.
S Tysheem Johnson
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8900)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 68 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 6 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 11th
Analysis: Tysheem Johnson was a solid player for the Ducks, and was among the leading tacklers on the team, playing nearly all of the snaps on defense. He can stand to improve in some coverage areas, but with another year under Dan Lanning, I could see him rising up these rankings.
QB Bo Nix
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8800)
Production at Oregon: 26 games, 630-for-844 (74.6%) 7,738 yards, 69 TD, 10 INT (20 rush TD)
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 1st
Analysis: Come on now, was there ever any question as to who the No. 1 transfer from the Lanning era would be? Bo Nix has been everything that fans could have ever expected and then some, coming to Oregon and becoming a Heisman trophy finalist before making the leap to the NFL. I have a feeling that Nix will be at No. 1 on this list for quite some time.
WR Tez Johnson
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247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8800)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 75 catches, 1,010 yards, 9 TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 4th
Analysis: Tez Johnson wasn’t a highly-rated transfer, coming from Troy, but he was a highly-graded player according to Pro Football Focus, and he proved why with a dynamic year as one of the best receivers on the roster. Should he return for another year in 2024, Johnson will likely be the WR1 and can rise even higher on this list.
DL Taki Taimani
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8800)
Production at Oregon: 24 games, 34 tackles, 2.5 TFL
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 14th
Analysis: Taki Taimani didn’t have a ton of production in his first year with the Ducks in 2022, but he did step up and play a bigger role in 2023, becoming a really solid defender in his final year of collegiate eligibility.
DL Jordon Riley
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8800)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 17th
Analysis: In his one year with the Ducks, Jordon Riley was solid on the defensive line, and he was able to turn that into a spot on the New York Giants roster in the NFL Draft.
OL Matthew Bedford
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8800)
2023 Production: 2 sacks allowed in 393 snaps
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: N/A
Analysis: Though Bedford isn’t among the highest-rated transfer on this list, he has the ability to provide an instant impact for the Ducks, potentially stepping in at the right guard spot and replacing Steven Jones. Bedford has a ton of experience all across the line in his career and will be a great plug-and-play asset for the Ducks.
WR Chase Cota
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8700)
Production at Oregon: 10 games, 36 catches, 497 yards, 3 TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 10th
Analysis: Chase Cota had a really good single season with Oregon in 2022, acting as the Ducks No. 2 receiver before jumping to the NFL. His place as a hometown kid certainly made him a fan favorite while in Eugene.
TE Casey Kelly
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8700)
Production at Oregon: 12 games, 5 catches, 43 yards, 2 TD
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 18th
Analysis: Casey Kelly didn’t have a ton of opportunities in 2023, but he made the most of them with two touchdowns on his five catches this season. The Ducks could be in a position where they need more TE help next year, depending on what Terrance Ferguson does, so Kelly could rise up this list.
DL Casey Rogers
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8700)
Production at Oregon: 26 games, 53 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 9th
Analysis: Casey Rogers was one of the more underrated transfers that the Ducks got, and he was a big piece of the defensive line this past season in his last year of collegiate eligibility.
TE Kaden Ludwick
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8700)
Production at Oregon: 0 Games
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 23rd
Analysis: Kaden Ludwick did not play a single snap in his first year in Eugene, so he finds his way to the bottom of our list.
LB Connor Soelle
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247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8500)
Production at Oregon: 13 games, 19 tackles
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 19th
Analysis: Connor Soelle played a bit of a role on the defense early in the season, but once the linebacker corps got a bit healthier, he didn’t see as much time on the field.
WR Caleb Chapman
247Sports Transfer Rating: 3-star (0.8500)
Production at Oregon: 9 games, 1 catch, 15 yards
Ducks Wire Transfer Ranking: 21st
Analysis: Caleb Chapman didn’t have much of a role in his one year with the Ducks, and he ended up transferring to Incarnate Word after the 2022 season.
