Rising Stars: Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza capture NFL Attention
EUGENE, Ore. – What began as unexpected career pivots for quarterbacks Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza is rapidly evolving into a compelling NFL draft narrative. Both players, initially seeking new opportunities outside of thier original programs, are now drawing significant interest from professional scouts as they lead their respective teams into a crucial Saturday matchup in Eugene.
Moore, a former five-star recruit, found himself at Oregon after a year at UCLA. Initially disappointed by his role with the Bruins, Moore embraced a philosophical outlook. ”Whatever, man.Everything happens for a reason,” he reportedly said, leading too his transfer. The move proved pivotal. Observing the success of previous Oregon quarterbacks like Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel reinforced his belief in the program’s ability to develop talent.
“It takes a special person, a guy that can process like Bo [Nix], like Dillon [Gabriel] and like Dante Moore to keep this thing rolling at the rate we want to keep it rolling,” Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein noted.
Moore spent the offseason honing his skills in Dallas, working alongside NFL stars Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. This intensive training, coupled with a year under stein’s guidance, has prepared him to excel in Oregon’s NFL-style offense. Stein emphasized the developmental focus: “To me development for a quarterback is to go to an offense that has proven to be accomplished and is able to set you up to play at the next level…Can you go and run an NFL-style offense? Can you handle a little bit lengthier play call?”
Through five games, Moore has demonstrated comfort and rhythm, leading Oregon to a strong start. His performance in a recent overtime victory at Penn state,before a crowd of 111,015,was particularly noteworthy,solidifying his status as a Heisman Trophy contender. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti observed, “As he’s played more, you can see he’s building on his success, confidence, belief, and he’s one of the great quarterbacks in the country.”
Meanwhile, Mendoza’s journey to becoming an NFL prospect is equally compelling. After two seasons at Cal, where the team achieved onyl six wins total, he transferred to Indiana seeking a more winning environment and a chance to showcase his abilities. “I want to win as many games as possible. At Cal, I had six wins both years. I really wanted at least one double-digit-win season,” Mendoza explained. He emphasized his genuine passion for the game, stating, “I don’t play football because of external factors. I truly do love football. I would play football if I was a walk-on with no scholarship.”
While Cignetti has maintained a measured approach to praising Mendoza, focusing on continued improvement, the quarterback’s performance has been undeniable. Mendoza, like Moore, is now considered among the nation’s top quarterbacks.
Saturday’s game between Oregon and Indiana will be heavily scrutinized by NFL personnel,with 16 scouts scheduled to attend. While the game’s outcome is significant, the focus extends beyond the scoreboard, as both Moore and Mendoza aim to further elevate their draft stock. The matchup represents a significant possibility for both quarterbacks to demonstrate their skills on a national stage and solidify their positions as rising stars in the world of college football and potential NFL darlings.
