ESPN provides NFL comp for Oregon 5-star WR Dakorien Moore

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Apr 4, 2025 - 20:00
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ESPN provides NFL comp for Oregon 5-star WR Dakorien Moore

It's hard to find an incoming true freshman who has garnered more hype or buzz for the Oregon Ducks than 5-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore.

As the No. 4 overall player in the 2025 class, and the No. 1 ranked receiver in the nation, Moore stepped foot in Eugene with a trailer load of fan admiration from the outset. With his speed, agility, and elite pass-catching abilities, there is an expectation that he will jump in and grab a large portion of the target share in the Ducks' offense as a true freshman, and a hope that he will develop into one of, if not the best receiver that Oregon has ever had.

Of course, those are lofty expectations for an athlete who has never played a snap of college football. But when you watch his film from high school, it's impossible to ignore the high ceiling that Moore brings with him. So it's just adding fuel to the fire when ESPN puts out a breakdown of the top recruits in the nation, and compares the Ducks' new WR to one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL right now: Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase.

Moore is a bigger, more physical version of outgoing Ducks receiver Tez Johnson," ESPN's Tom Luginbill writes. "Even by Oregon's lofty standards, Moore is a special athlete. He's reminiscent of Ja'Marr Chase and is one of the most acrobatic, naturally gifted pass-catchers we've evaluated over the past 20 years."

That's certainly a lofty comparison, considering that Chase became the highest-paid WR in the NFL this offseason, signing a $161 million contract that pays him over $40 million per year with the Bengals. In his career, the former LSU Tigers star has caught 395 passes for 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns. He had a career year in 2024 with 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, which led all NFL receivers.

So yeah, saying that an 18-year-old who has never played a snap of college football is "reminiscent of Ja'Marr Chase" qualifies as lofty, but when you break down Moore's tape and see what he was able to do at Duncanville in high school, it doesn't feel out of bounds.

"Moore checks all the boxes physically, but his competitive temperament sets him apart," Luginbill continues. "He truly loves to play the game. Moore better be ready to compete because Oregon's wide receiver room is loaded with young, inexperienced depth and added Florida State transfer Malik Benson. Nevertheless, Oregon knows Moore is a weapon it can line up anywhere and cause fits for opposing defenses."

Going into the 2025 season, the door is wide open for Moore to enter the mix and grab a starting spot. With Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden off to the NFL, Evan Stewart is the only returning starting WR returning to Eugene. Other players like Kyler Kasper, Justius Lowe, Gary Bryant Jr., Jeremiah McClellan, Jurrion Dickey, and Malik Benson will all fight tooth and nail for a percentage of the target share. Still, it's safe to say that Moore has an equal opportunity to come in and grab what is available to him in what should be a meritocracy.

If he truly is reminiscent of Chase, it would surprise nobody to see him do so quickly.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks WR Dakorien Moore compared to NFL superstart

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