CHICAGO -- Two years ago, Dante Moore came home, but he wasn't wearing maize and blue. Instead, he was in white and green, playing for the road team Oregon Ducks, as the backup quarterback behind Dillon Gabriel. Michigan was drubbed that day, and Moore emerged victorious, even if he wasn't on the field. But in November, he'll have his chance as the starting quarterback in Eugene.
And there will be a familiar face facing off on the other side of him.
At Big Ten media days, Moore noted that he's excited to play against the team that gave him his first offer back in June 2018, when he was in eighth grade. But more of what he's excited about is facing off against his friend, Bryce Underwood, a player who came up alongside him, even if it was a few
years after.
"Yeah, it's going to be a great game," Moore said. "Me and Bryce, of course, are close. We've also trained with Devin (Gardner) growing up. But, yeah, it's going to be a great time. It's going to be a great week, and it's going to be an electric environment."
Much of the offseason chatter as it pertains to Michigan football has surrounded Underwood, and many who are questioning if he can or will make a sophomore leap after an up-and-down freshman campaign. Though Moore is on an opposing Big Ten team, he's someone who has faith in Underwood's capability, noting that the Michigan quarterback has all of the tools at his disposal, and that he's got something extra that most quarterbacks don't have.
"Bryce is a great man," Moore said. "He's, of course, someone that has all the attributes when it comes to running, throwing. There's all these things, and he's a great guy. But, overall, just his talent -- he's special, man. He's going to have a great year for sure."
Moore, himself, was a five-star recruit, rated as the No. 4 player overall in the 2023 class according to 247Sports. Underwood, two years later in the 2025 class, was the No. 1 overall player, regardless of position. Given that Moore came up with him in the Detroit area -- Underwood played for Belleville while Moore was at Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King -- he's seen what he's capable of. The next step is for Underwood to find that same gear he had when he was younger and to apply it to his college game.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Oregon star Dante Moore says Bryce Underwood is 'special'
