Notre Dame football got an expert prediction for five-star quarterback Dante Moore but are the Fighting Irish the leading contender to land him?
While many college football fans are focused on the recruitment of five-star quarterback Arch Manning, who is the top-ranked prospect in 2023, there is another big fish in the quarterback pond in 2023 and his name is Dante Moore.
Moore is the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247 sports composite rankings. He’s also ranked 17th according to the On3.com consensus rankings and following a prediction by Mike Singer for Notre Dame football, the Fighting Irish are now the favorite to land him with a 71 percent chance via the On3 prediction machine.
Singer’s prediction is the first. There aren’t any on 247 sports yet and Moore has said he isn’t deciding any time soon, so there is still time for other contenders to enter the mix. Michigan football was thought to be the favorite for the 6-foot-2, 195-pound standout from Detroit.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the top five contenders in the recruitment of Dante Moore.
5. Penn State
Penn State has been on a roll recruiting and put together a top-10 class in 2022. One of Penn State’s signees was five-star quarterback Drew Allar.
That could have an impact on Moore who surely wants to play as soon as possible. Allar could have a chance to play as early as next season but is likely to take over as the starter in 2023, so James Franklin would need to convince Moore he will at least get a real shot to win the job.
But I doubt that Moore is going to want to wait until the 2025 season to start. I don’t know that he would, because, for my money, he’s as good as any QB in 2022 or 2023 but it’s something to think about.
4. Ohio State
Ohio State entered the mix for Dante Moore this summer when the Buckeyes offered the five-star quarterback and while the Buckeyes have just a one percent chance of landing Moore according to the On3 prediction machine, it seems like their hopes are better than that.
CJ Stroud has been dynamic and he’s going to be gone after this season which could leave an opening for Moore to come and take the job. Landing a five-star quarterback from Detroit would also be the ultimate recruiting win for OSU and a huge loss for Michigan football, which would make it even sweeter for the Buckeyes.
3. Michigan State
The Spartans recently landed the commitment of three-star quarterback Bo Edmundson from the state of Texas. He’s a top-600 prospect and like Penn State, Michigan State landed a quality signal-caller in 2022 also.
But the Spartans have also made a strong push for Moore. Michigan State has made in-state recruiting a priority and there is no bigger prize than the Detroit King five-star quarterback.
Dante Moore signing with Michigan State would be the ultimate sign that the Spartans are a threat to finally recruit at the same level as Michigan football.
MSU is working as hard as any program at this moment and it has given the Spartans a realistic shot of making this happen and have hosted him for more unofficial visits than any other school.
2. Michigan
Michigan football has long been the favorite for Dante Moore and Jim Harbaugh was the first head coach to offer the prized recruit back when he was an eighth-grader.
However, all of his NFL interest probably didn’t help the Wolverines. Recruits want stability and don’t want to worry about their head coach possibly leaving for the NFL.
Yet, the good thing is that Harbaugh has been involved in this recruitment and while Josh Gattis has a role, he wasn’t the key player. Harbaugh personally made a difference for Michigan football when it came to Will Johnson back in 2021, following a 2-4 campaign and it worked.
There is time for him to do it again.
1. Notre Dame
The prediction for Notre Dame football to land Moore from Mike Singer isn’t without reason. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees has developed a strong relationship with Moore and here’s what the five-star quarterback told On3.com Chad Simmons:
"“I am talking a lot more with Coach Freeman, and I have always talked a lot with coach Tommy Rees. Me and Coach Rees talk ball, life, and we have had a strong bond for over a year. Now, me and Coach Freeman are chatting it up more, and I think he can do a great job.”"
If early signing day was coming this week or if Moore was making a decision soon, I would feel very good as a Notre Dame football fan. Marcus Freeman has done a stellar job here too and recruiting is obviously a strength of his.
It’s part of the reason why Notre Dame football is in the lead, but Michigan football and others are in hot pursuit and this recruitment is far from over.