The NFL draft has been thrown into chaos by Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s decision to stay in college.
Moore was widely considered among the candidates to be the second quarterback taken by a team in April with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 overall.
But on Wednesday he announced on ESPN that he’s decided to stay with the Ducks for another year.
‘When it comes to me just making my decision, of course I want to feel most prepared and what’s best for my situation, especially as a quarterback,’ he said.
‘And with my decision, it’s been very tough. I prayed a lot about it, talked to many people, my mentors, and people I just look up to.
‘With that being said, of course I’ll be coming back to Oregon for one more year, being able to play for the Oregon Ducks and reach our goal and be national champions.’
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has decided to stay in college instead of leaving for the NFL
The New York Jets looked likely to take Moore with the second overall pick in April’s draft
It will come as a bitter blow for the New York Jets, who many had predicted in mock drafts would have taken Moore with their second overall pick.
Last week, Stephen A. Smith urged Moore to swerve the struggling NFL side and head back to college instead.
During an episode of First Take, ESPN host Smith said: ‘I’d go back to college before I played for the Jets. They are a football atrocity. They are awful. I mean straight garbage.
‘I am a black man that is consistently pushing for opportunities for black coaches throughout the years. And it hurts me to say this, okay? [But] Ain’t no way Aaron Glenn should still be the head coach of the New York Jets.
‘They were horrible and digressed, damn near nosedived. They are horrible. And they are the place to go if you want to sink, if you want to dissipate, if you want to rot away. They are horrible. If I was a parent, my child wouldn’t even go to the draft’.
Smith’s volatile reaction quickly went viral and sparked plenty of debate on social media, which lead to Jets star Garrett Wilson calling out Smith for his take.
Taking to X, Wilson responded to the video and wrote: ‘Damn, u gotta be a real sell out n above all a square to be on ESPN nowadays. Used to love that show’.
Last week, Stephen A. Smith urged Moore to swerve the struggling Jets and return to Oregon
This season, Moore completed nearly 72 per cent of his throws for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Oregon finished 13-2.
The Ducks were coming off a 56-22 loss to Indiana in a College Football Playoff semifinal Friday night.
Moore had three crucial turnovers in the first half, leading to three Indiana touchdowns that gave the Hoosiers a commanding 35-7 lead at halftime.
Moore began his college career at UCLA but left after one season to sign with Oregon. He backed up Dillon Gabriel last season before moving up to the starting job when Gabriel departed for the NFL.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said following the Indiana loss that he hoped to have Moore return.
‘Dante has been exceptional,’ the coach said. ‘It´s gone right for us 13 times. It didn´t go right tonight. You can´t let that overshadow (the season). Every one of us has unbelievable disappointment. Learn from it.’
