Ohio State Expected To Push For Michigan Football Transfer Target

Since the portal window first opened, a major name to watch for the Maize and Blue has been former five-star quarterback Dante Moore, a QB from UCLA and a native of Michigan. With a lot of regional ties and the program’s latest success, Moore has been rumored to be a primary Michigan football transfer target — especially since JJ McCarthy could be NFL-bound after the 2023 season. While the Wolverines appear to be among the top contenders right now, Ohio State is also in the mix for the transfer portal QB, which is something that U-M should be keeping an eye on as both programs look to reload heading into the first season of a much larger Big Ten.

Michigan football transfer target being pursued by Ohio State

JJ McCarthy and Michigan football have bigger fish to fry right now than what the Wolverines’ roster will look like next fall. That said, seeing as McCarthy could very well leave for the NFL Draft after Michigan’s College Football Playoff run, Michigan could be in the market for a new QB1 heading into the 2024 season. Even if McCarthy stays, which would be ideal — especially since his draft stock has been dropping as of late — Dante Moore could use a year to develop behind a proven talent like McCarthy, especially after a sub-par freshman year at UCLA.

Four contenders emerge for ex-five-star quarterback Dante Moore

According to recruiting insider Chad Simmons, starting immediately is not a priority for Dante Moore — in fact, sources state that Moore wants to be somewhere where he is pushed to be a better player. The schools that fit that bill right off the bat? Michigan, Ohio State, Miami, and Oregon — three of which will be in the Big Ten Conference next year.

Michigan has been in the mix since Moore first hit the transfer portal from UCLA

Earlier this week, it was reported that the former five-star quarterback turned Michigan football transfer target has been in communication with the Wolverines since he first entered the transfer portal.

Per Simmons’ report, Dante Moore is also expected to schedule visits with both Michigan and Ohio State before committing — if he is serious about U-M, I assume he will announce after the Wolverines’ CFP run, which will start on January 1 against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. This timeline matches up with Moore’s reported desired commitment date — Moore reportedly aims to choose a new school in January and be enrolled by the coming spring semester.

Out of high school, Moore was a major target for Michigan — he was the No. 3 player in the nation, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan.

NEWS: Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon have emerged as contenders for UCLA transfer QB Dante Moore, @ChadSimmons_ reports👀

Intel: https://t.co/NNMEnlzpLI pic.twitter.com/kTfBsrtDv7

— On3 (@On3sports) December 6, 2023

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