Oregon QB Dante Moore has been transported to a local hospital after a brutal hit he sustained during today’s game against USC.
In the middle of the second quarter, Moore escaped the pocket and ran up the middle of the field for a first down. But as he leaned back to slide, USC linebacker Desman Stephens II went low and made direct contact with the middle of Moore’s face.
The impact left Moore completely motionless and he had to be carted off the field and loaded into an ambulance.
According to NBC, Moore has since been transported to the LA General County Hospital and has movement in his legs and fingers.
Fans Lash Out at USC
The referees wasted zero time flagging Stephens for a personal foul. But as he waited on the sideline for the call, he could be seen smiling, which rubbed plenty of people the wrong way.
“Forget about any #B1G suspension for Desman Stephens. USC should not allow him to play for the Trojans again. He doesn’t seem to care. Not showing any contrition for that is *completely* unacceptable. No place in the program for that,” one USC fan wrote on X.
“Dante Moore laid out on the field motionless and Desman Stephens is celebrating and taunting the Oregon sideline. INSANE,” wrote another.
“I’m rooting USC, but Desman Stephens deserves to get tossed. Blatantly obvious targeting hit, then celebrating/taunting afterwards, while aware that flags are flying and Moore is hurt? Awful look. AK,” a third wrote.
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s not impossible that Stephens has played his final game at USC and possibly even his final game of college football. Between the punishment that is likely coming and the threats he’s reportedly already receiving, the next few weeks are probably going to be rough.
As for Moore, we can only hope he makes a full recovery.
