Many times in college football, one team’s good fortune becomes another team’s opportunity. And right now, Georgia might be the biggest winner in Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon for the 2026 season instead of entering the NFL Draft. While the Jets watched their draft plans get scrambled, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are quietly positioning themselves to land a four-star quarterback who suddenly finds himself without a clear path to playing time in Eugene. 

Four-star Oregon quarterback signee Bryson Beaver has entered the transfer portal as a short-term signee. And Georgia is positioned as one of the frontrunners to land him. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the Bulldogs and Kentucky are the two early schools keeping closest tabs on Beaver’s recruitment, with visits expected in the immediate future. 

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal-caller from Vista Murrieta High School in California enrolled at Oregon just ten days ago, on January 5. He signed his National Letter of Intent back on December 3. And now finds himself looking for a new home after spending barely a month as a Duck. For Georgia, this is an absolute gift. A blue-chip quarterback prospect is suddenly available at exactly the moment they need one most.​

Beaver’s situation went sideways fast. He originally committed to Boise State early in his recruitment before his stock exploded after earning an invite to the Elite 11 finals last June. That’s when the big boys came calling: Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, LSU, Ole Miss, Utah. But he ultimately chose Oregon over all of them and stuck with that commitment for nearly six months. 

Dan Lanning raved about him on signing day in December, saying, “You fall in love with the family—Bryson has an unbelievable group around him.” He praised his arm talent and mental capacity to handle Oregon’s demanding quarterback system. But then Moore shocked everyone by announcing his return to college on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Wednesday, and just hours later, Beaver told ESPN he was entering the portal. When you’re ranked as ESPN’s No. 208 overall prospect and the No. 15 quarterback in the 2026 class, you don’t stick around to compete for backup reps behind a projected top-five NFL Draft pick.​

Oregon’s quarterback room suddenly went from uncertain to absolutely loaded. They got Moore back after his “very tough” decision to turn down the No. 2 overall pick from the Jets. But they also landed Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola earlier this week, who figures to be Moore’s backup in 2026 and his successor in 2027 when Moore finally does go pro. 

That left Beaver as the odd man out in a depth chart that suddenly had zero room for a freshman to see meaningful snaps. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is now dealing with the second straight year where the Ducks have lost a high school quarterback signee in the winter transfer portal window. Last year it was Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who bailed to Cal. For Bryson Beaver, the writing was on the wall. He could either stay at Oregon and waste a year holding a clipboard or hit the portal and find somewhere he can actually play.​ He chose the latter.

Moore embraces mentor role as Oregon’s QB room gets crowded

While Bryson Beaver is scrambling to find a new home after getting squeezed out of Oregon’s suddenly packed quarterback room, Dante Moore is embracing the exact role that once helped him develop into a future NFL prospect. Moore’s decision to return for 2026 means Dylan Raiola will spend next season as his backup, mirroring the situation Moore faced in 2024 when he sat behind Dillon Gabriel. 

And Moore isn’t just okay with it. He’s excited to pay forward the mentorship he received. “I know when he comes here, he’s gonna be a great guy for the QB room,” Moore said when asked about Raiola. “I’m gonna make sure to give him the thoughts that Dillon Gabriel did for me.” It’s a full-circle moment. Moore spent 2024 learning from Gabriel and took over as a starter in 2025. And now he gets to guide the next man up.​