Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning isn’t expected to entertain the idea of adding Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava in the transfer portal with Dante Moore tabbed as the Ducks’ starting signal-caller.
CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno pointed out the multiple reasons why the link to Oregon isn’t very strong for Iamalaeava, including the fact that former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, now Arizona State’s head coach, was the quarterback’s primary recruiter.
“Oregon recruited Iamaleava out of high school when (now) Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham was the offensive coordinator at the school. This addition could make sense if Iamaleava had proximity to home in mind, but the Ducks already have Dillon Gabriel's successor in place: Dante Moore. After spending one season at UCLA, Moore transferred to Oregon and sat behind Gabriel last season,” Salerno wrote.
“Moore is expected to be Oregon's starter this fall. So, if Iamaleava transfers to Oregon, it would likely create a ripple effect in the quarterback room.”
Moore makes over $1.1 million in Eugene. Adding another high-priced QB likely pushes him out after he waited a year to get his chance to shine with the Ducks.
Lanning doesn’t make that kind of short-sighted decision. His tenure at Oregon has been defined by smart plays.
He’s called out others for “fighting for clicks,” so why would Lanning turn around and make an unsensible and dramatic – and ultimately, probably unnecessary – play in the transfer portal?
He won’t. Iamaleava will have interest from marquee programs with deep pockets, but Oregon won’t be one of them.