Michigan State football could be key player for Dante Moore

According to an insider, Michigan State football could be a key factor for Dante Moore now that he’s in the portal.

With three quarterbacks in the portal, Michigan State football will likely be on the lookout for any high-profile quarterback that enters. The eyeball emojis will be flying on social media as people try to connect the dots between each quarterback and newly appointed head coach Jonathan Smith. I trust that Smith will get it done through the portal, and we’ll have a bright future at that position. 

Could Dante Moore be the guy?

Spartan fans won’t have to wait much further for these rumors to start flying, because as Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that Dante Moore is set to enter the portal when it officially opens on Dec. 4. The former 2023 five-star quarterback will have plenty of action around his transfer portal venture, and it puts another high-caliber quarterback on the market. The quarterback from Detroit told 247Sports, “So I’d say the biggest things are going to a place where I can get developed and continue to love and have fun playing football and be around a place that loves college football and be around great athletes.”

Enter Michigan State into the conversation for Moore. At least that’s what Bruce Feldman of The Athletic thinks. 

Michigan State a player for Moore

On Thursday afternoon, shortly after Moore announced his plans, Feldman released an article claiming that Michigan State should be considered a potential landing spot. Being a Detroit native, Moore visited Michigan State and was linked to the Spartans until the end of his recruitment.

Feldman believes that with Michigan State in search of its new “franchise QB”, it should have Moore towards the top of its wish list. 

SOURCE: Former five-star QB Dante Moore is transferring from UCLA. Where does he go from here? Keep an eye on Michigan State: https://t.co/gXmSNCwj36https://t.co/gXmSNCwj36

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 30, 2023

Smith is widely known as a coach where quarterbacks can go and develop. His most recent success story, DJ Uigalelei had a very successful 2023 campaign accounting for 27 total touchdowns and helping the Beavers to an 8-4 record. His quarterback rating grew from 135 at Clemson in 2022, to 145 in 2023 under Smith. In 2021 it was at 108.

Geoff Schwartz of FOX Sports seems to agree, stating Thursday night on X.com that this move would make sense and that Moore would be “excellent in Smith’s offense.”

Comparing Moore’s outlook on what he wants from his next landing spot that I mentioned earlier, with an evaluation on Smith’s job at Oregon State, the two seem to align on more than a few things.

“He’s shown not only the ability to recruit talented student-athletes who fit his system but also to develop and maximize players once they’re in the program,” was a quote used by CBS Detroit earlier this week to describe Smith’s job in Corvallis. 

On top of this, Smith has already coached against Moore. He had good things to say about the freshman quarterback when Oregon State when he traveled to Corvallis. “He’s got our full attention,” Smith said in a Sports Illustrated article previewing the matchup between the two. Smith noted Moore’s dual-threat ability.

A good fit for the Spartans

Recently locking down Michigan State football as his next school, 2024 four-star commit Nick Marsh also seems interested, retweeting Feldman’s story about the potential between Moore and Michigan State. A connection between Marsh and a high-caliber quarterback like Moore could be something State fans grow fond of quickly. Marsh has been furiously working other recruits to come play with him and Smith, even making the pitch to four-star running back Anthony Carrie on X.com Thursday afternoon.

Moore, from an objective standpoint, makes sense to be a true candidate for the Spartans. A future offense of Dante Moore, Nick Marsh, and Anthony Carrie, among others, seems attainable. 

At the very least, what this story from Bruce Feldman does is prove that Michigan State and Smith are real players for any name that pops up in the transfer portal. Not all of Michigan State’s eggs need to be put in the Moore basket. It’s easy to believe that Smith will have no trouble finding the quarterback to lead his program in 2024 and the future if you look at his body of work developing passers. The Detroit King product will continue to have major buzz surrounding his recruitment out of the portal but, according to Bruce Feldman, Michigan State makes sense.