The UCLA Bruins kicked off their 2023 season in style with a 27-13 victory over Coastal Carolina. UCLA made much like the rest of the Pac-12 Conference and emerged victorious out of Week 1. One player who many expected to emerge this season is freshman Dante Moore. The five-star recruit chose UCLA over Michigan and Oregon and came in with a lot of hype.
Moore appeared in the first game and played well. He went seven-for-12 through the air for a team-high 143 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Ethan Garbers may have led in attempts (17), but Moore excelled in other ways anyway. He got a chance to give an honest assessment of his first collegiate action.
“First, being in this position, I know it’s a true blessing to come out here for my first college football game. Since we first took off from the facility, I just couldn’t believe how there was no traffic, we were escorted. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m really in the college experience,'” Moore said via On3.
The eye-opening experience obviously wasn’t too big for the freshman hopeful. Moore looked poised and sharp in his first outing against Coastal Carolina. But, of course, the competition will only ramp up from here. The Pac-12 Conference looks as good as it’s been in years this season. Moore and his promise is a big reason why for UCLA, so we’ll see if he continues to deliver.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022