EUGENE, Ore. — The vibe king of faculty soccer is in his pure aspect. He’s leaning ahead in his chair inside Oregon’s quarterback room, contemporary out of a Tuesday morning apply with the No. 1 crew within the nation. Dillon Gabriel feels proper at house on this area as he picks via a takeout field of crispy rooster, beef teriyaki, rice and macaroni salad.
“It’s every little thing I believed it could be and extra, truthfully,” Gabriel stated of his season with the Ducks.
A six-year journey of quarterbacking throughout the nation has introduced him right here to chase an unforgettable ending. The Ducks are three wins away from their first-ever nationwide championship. They’ve come this far with a QB who has actually seen all of it since he moved from Hawaii to start school in 2019.
Through stops at UCF, Oklahoma and now Oregon, Gabriel has develop into essentially the most skilled beginning quarterback in main school soccer historical past. He achieved 10-plus-win seasons in any respect three faculties and has been an all-conference performer in three totally different leagues.
“He’s doing stuff nobody’s ever completed,” Oregon tight finish Terrance Ferguson stated.
Gabriel already owns the NCAA document for complete touchdowns (187), and he is about to interrupt one other document. He has thrown 153 profession landing passes and enters the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on the Rose Bowl in opposition to Ohio State (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) simply three touchdowns away from surpassing Case Keenum’s FBS document. He might develop into the NCAA’s all-time main passer, too, if the Ducks go all the best way.
Finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty was an honor however one he was by no means chasing. The mission was championships. That’s the one factor Gabriel hasn’t achieved over six seasons and greater than 4,300 profession snaps.
As Gabriel closes in on rings, data and the ultimate days of a 63-game school profession, ESPN sat down with the Ducks’ quarterback and likewise requested the gamers who know him greatest — the teammates who’ve hauled in these 153 touchdowns — to mirror on the place he started, what he gained and misplaced, and who he turned within the technique of chasing greatness throughout the game.
“God’s bought a bizarre means of simply placing you the place it’s essential be,” Gabriel stated. “My aim is to simply belief that and have a way of peace figuring out that what occurs can be. It’s about how can I give myself one of the best shot by the best way I work, coming in each day, not losing a day. There actually is not any tomorrow. Why watch for it?
“That’s sort of been my motto for this yr. And that is all due to the s— I’ve been via.”
Part 1: UCF
Back in 2019, coach Josh Heupel was main UCF within the American Athletic Conference, 4 seasons earlier than this system joined the Big 12. Name, picture and likeness compensation was nonetheless two years away. The Knights had been looking for a QB coming into 2019 whereas McKenzie Milton recovered from devastating leg harm. Dillon Gabriel, a real freshman from Hawai’i, was making a push to play immediately.
UCF WR Marlon Williams: There’s a cause why Dillon needed to step in and play as a freshman. D.J. Mack Jr. was our beginning quarterback. He was enjoying intramural basketball on the rec at UCF proper earlier than camp and broke his ankle. The coaches made positive there was no extra basketball after that. I believe they used to have coaches pop in over there randomly simply to ensure we weren’t there.
I used to be like, ‘Aw man, that is going to be an extended season.’ But after we noticed Dillon throw it round a pair instances, we had been like, ‘Oh, we’ll be high quality.’
UCF WR Tre Nixon: His power was contagious. He was excited to be on the market. You might inform he is enthusiastic about soccer. I believe a man coming in as a freshman and having that very same power each single day, being round somebody like that brings the enjoyable again into soccer. That’s the very first thing I observed about Dillon that was totally different from each different freshman.
Williams: He was nonetheless a younger man, a bit of immature. But all of us noticed he was going to be the participant he’s at the moment. That’s why he performed.
UCF RB Adrian Killins Jr.: Any likelihood Dillon bought, he wished to compete. He wasn’t being boastful or something like that. He was simply making an attempt to convey a distinct aspect to the crew.
I’ll always remember, we had been in coaching camp his freshman yr and he was anxious he did not have camp and fell within the depth chart. He was down on himself, being very damaging, and that is regular. I instructed him, ‘Bro, you bought to cease being so delicate. Stop being so delicate. Toughen up. Just compete. Just go on the market and be you.’
QB Dillon Gabriel: He’s like, ‘Get out your emotions, bro. Stop pouting and s—.’ My younger, aggressive freshman self was a bit of emotionally uncontrollable. He was just like the Yoda for me.
Notre Dame switch Brandon Wimbush gained the beginning job out of fall camp, however Gabriel would play within the season opener as effectively and led 4 landing drives in a 62-0 win over Florida A&M. He began the remainder of the best way for a 10-3 crew.
Gabriel: Whether I preferred it or not, it stored me hungry and stored me working. I bear in mind [Heupel] instructed the crew: Brandon goes to be our starter, however Dillon goes to play the third drive. I used to be like, ‘F—.’ But who would I be to be mad about that after I nonetheless have my alternative to go present what I can do?
Williams: He was positively presupposed to be our starter.
Gabriel: That first time you get on the market, it is just like the oblivious sort of thought course of. You actually do not know what to anticipate, so that you’re simply doing. That gave me some peace of thoughts. Just go play and be taught. It allowed me to flourish. You be taught all through that point however, as a freshman, you are a bit of extra reckless.
Nixon: The freshman yr Dillon I knew was extra enjoying round and humorous to be round and joking. When he bought thrown to the wolves and now he has to begin producing, you would see the transition in his maturity degree.
Gabriel: The rising pains had been actual. I did not get the privilege to be taught on a apply area. I discovered in entrance of everybody. They needed to see all of it, and a few of it was actually good. I beloved the expertise as a result of it is made me such a distinct human being now.
But there’s a lot that comes with it, quite a bit you do not even take into consideration. You need to handle it whereas being a school pupil and a child and determining who you actually wish to be. How are you able to be genuine however be a pacesetter and push and all this whereas being 18 years outdated?
One factor Gabriel did not have to fret about was having expertise to throw to at UCF. Williams would develop into his go-to receiver with 119 completions for 1,715 yards and 15 TDs. But Gabriel was challenged early on by receiver Gabriel Davis, the long run fourth-round choose now enjoying for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gabriel: Gabe was like the large brother. He sort of teased me a bit of bit, poked enjoyable at me, which I beloved, too. He was a junior going to the professionals and was so pushed and also you’d see the best way he labored. He’d come as much as me like, ‘Throw me the f—ing ball.’
Williams: Gabe used to go off on him. He’s like, ‘Man, please throw me the ball.’ It wasn’t nothing dangerous, however I get it. Gabe was making an attempt to go to the league. So he is like, ‘Man, be sure to throw me the ball.’ And Dillon was like, ‘Man, why is he like that?’
Gabriel: He was bodily and fearless. He would level folks out in one-on-ones like, ‘Get over right here.’ Like no person does that. He’s like, ‘I would like you.’ Then he’d go kill you in a route after which provide the ball.
Williams: You bought to observe the way you speak. Dillon is an alpha, do not get me unsuitable, however he is from Hawai’i. It’s a bit of bit nicer on the market. His freshman yr, he was like, ‘Bro, loosen up, Gabe.’ And he’d hear, ‘Nah man, throw me the ball!’
Gabriel: But I revered it. And I look again at it like, man, I want I might undertake that mentality sooner, you already know? He’s a giant half in my journey due to that.
Williams: I believe that helped him as a participant. He’ll be actually ready when he goes to the league. He will not hear something new, I’ll inform you that.
Gabriel: I like Gabe to loss of life and the way he opened my eyes up. I wanted to be challenged at that age — by a pal, too, and never a coach.
Killins: That soar from Year 1 to Year 2 for Dillon, it was legit night time and day with the best way he carried himself extra like knowledgeable and the best way he talked.
Williams: I believe Dillon is a good chief as a result of there have been a whole lot of nice leaders at UCF. You needed to be a pacesetter or any person that took care of enterprise to play. He bought to be taught it from a whole lot of guys, particularly McKenzie.
McKenzie Milton was the one who persuaded Heupel to recruit Gabriel to UCF. He mentored Gabriel all through his first two years earlier than transferring to Florida State after the 2020 season.
Nixon: McKenzie is a one-of-a-kind individual. To have him mentor you and allow you to know the ins and outs, what he sees on a play, I can solely think about how a lot that helped Dillon from a preparation standpoint and feeling extra assured from each day.
Gabriel: And did he need to? F— no. He did not need to do something. But he went out of his means, and I like him for it. That’s my brother for all times.
Killins: It was nothing however love between them. It was subsequent man up, I’m passing the torch to you, let’s preserve this factor going.
The first landing cross of Gabriel’s profession was to Otis Anderson Jr., UCF’s versatile working again and receiver. He would join with Anderson for 2 extra scores that season. Gabriel additionally discovered a dependable goal in tight finish Jake Hescock, whom he’d throw 5 touchdowns to throughout his profession. Tragedies later befell each teammates.
Anderson died on Nov. 29, 2021. The 23-year-old was fatally shot within the chest by his father throughout an argument. Otis Anderson Sr. pled responsible to armed manslaughter and was sentenced to 12½ years in jail.
Williams: We had been within the group chat and Otis texted us the night time of like, ‘Man, I’ll speak to y’all later.’ I went to sleep and, two hours later, he was gone.
Gabriel: He was only a nice child and a fantastic dude. It’s like… you query it, proper? Why sure folks, once they actually do no unsuitable? Everyone beloved Otis. You can ask anybody, and that is even when he was nonetheless right here on this Earth, they’d haven’t one dangerous factor to say about Otis, as a result of he is simply wonderful. He was a working again/receiver/returner, a fantastic participant in that means, however he was a fantastic individual and also you simply beloved being round him. He made you’re feeling higher. He was quieter, so when he talked, you felt particular.
🚨 DIME ALERT 🚨@_dillongabriel_👉 @Gumby_football
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 30, 2019
Williams: It’s the explanation why I nonetheless play. I do know one among my teammates was nonetheless enjoying, nonetheless chasing his dream.
A yr later, the teammates misplaced Hescock. He died all of the sudden of cardiac arrest on Dec. 11, 2022, whereas jogging in Boston. He was 25.
Gabriel: God, this one hurts. When I left UCF, he is a man who’d attain out and name me. He was supposed to come back out to an Oklahoma recreation and see us. He was a man who’s all the time been supportive. I bear in mind going over to his home for UFC fights. It’s simply loopy, you already know? He wasn’t the freakiest participant. He was OK with not going to the league and loved his school profession. He was for the boys.
Nixon: Hescock was one other man who made soccer enjoyable. Football’s a troublesome sport if you’re on the market in that 90-degree climate with pads on, hitting all day, sweating, cramping up. Having guys on the crew like Hescock, Otis and Dillon, these optimistic energies, it makes soccer enjoyable and it makes it value going via that wrestle together with your crew.
Life is simply so valuable, man. I simply want I might return and spend extra time with them, hang around with them extra, get to know them higher. I do know they’re in a greater place now, and I simply hope their households discover some kind of peace via these powerful instances.
Gabriel: He all the time tried to look out for me and make me really feel supported as a younger quarterback. It goes a good distance. He went out of his means. That’s why it hurts, too. I like him and my coronary heart goes out to his household, as a result of he was only a good dude.
Williams: After that, we made it a degree that if any of us are on the town or we all know we’re in the identical space, we have to hang around. It positively made teammates quite a bit nearer. Earlier at the moment, me and [Killins] and a pair guys had been in our group message reminiscing on the outdated instances. We do this on a regular basis, and I believe it is due to what occurred. Of course we had been all the time shut, however that was that further push to ensure, hey, y’all keep in contact with one another.
We nonetheless speak about them. It’s nonetheless powerful generally, however I believe it is simpler if you’ve bought guys you possibly can open up to and speak about it with.
Killins: They had been so younger. Life is simply loopy, man. I nonetheless speak to each of their households, Otis’ mother and Jake’s mother.
Three video games into his junior season, Gabriel suffered a season-ending fractured clavicle on the ultimate play of a loss to Louisville. After specializing in his restoration for 2 months, he was prepared for a contemporary begin and entered the switch portal.
Years later, although, he needs his three years at UCF had a distinct ending.
Gabriel: I used to be younger, and I really feel like they did not get to see the me that was extra mature, extra skilled, extra educated about life and soccer. I simply love that place. I had that particular relationship with McKenzie and so many nice coaches, so many nice folks. And then it was, like, anticlimactic. Like the end was like a dot dot dot. You did not even get the ending, you already know?
Nixon: Any teammate that is been round Dillon can attest to this: The dude is simply enjoyable to be round. You wish to play onerous for him. He’s one among them guys who actually tries to get to know you on a private degree and cares about you as an individual. I believe these days that is very uncommon. You cannot actually inform what’s actual and what’s pretend anymore. But with Dillon, he is been the identical man from the second he was a freshman. He’s nonetheless the identical man and he is main Oregon, the undefeated No. 1 crew within the nation.
Killins: Every time he bought the possibility, he’d say, ‘Love you bro.’ And I’m like, ‘Bro, I get it, I like you too.’ But that is simply Dillon. He’s going to point out you that love, as a result of that is simply who he’s and that is simply the kind of household background he comes from. That’s simply Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel: There had been ups and downs, ebbs and flows, however that place will without end imply a lot to me. Because I grew up, you already know? I grew up there. It was just like the welcome-to-the-show second. I gave my coronary heart and every little thing for that place. I actually did.
Part 2: Oklahoma
Upon coming into the switch portal, it appeared seemingly Gabriel would head to Ole Miss to reunite with Jeff Lebby, his former UCF offensive coordinator. When Lebby left for Oklahoma, Gabriel dedicated to UCLA. Thirty minutes earlier than he boarded his flight to maneuver to Los Angeles, Gabriel bought a name from Lebby. Caleb Williams was leaving OU. Lebby wanted him in Norman.
He arrived in January 2022 as this system launched into a brand new period below first-time head coach Brent Venables following coach Lincoln Riley’s stunning choice to bolt for USC.
Gabriel: It was so final minute, actually all the way down to the wire. But you sort of have that blind religion. I trusted in Leb and the place that was going. I wasn’t actually comfy with the choice I’d made prior, so I did it. But it being so final minute, there was simply a lot everybody needed to be taught. We’re studying an entire new offense, sort of piecing collectively what we’re good at. We’re nonetheless discovering our every day routine, how we will apply. There was simply a lot we needed to alter to in Year 1.
Oklahoma WR Nic Anderson: In my first couple weeks there, he was within the weight room and I walked in, and there have been some recruits round. I used to be like, ‘Are you visiting this place?’ He was like, ‘Nah, bro. I’m the quarterback. I’m Dillon.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh shoot! What’s good? Nice to satisfy you.’ I believed he was one of many recruits as a result of he is a bit of on the shorter aspect. I believed he was wanting on the place, nonetheless in highschool or one thing.
Oklahoma WR Drake Stoops: There was a whole lot of uncertainty within the air at this level, and we wanted a quarterback, clearly. I bear in mind my coach telling me, hey, we bought any person who has thrown for therefore many yards and touchdowns, that he is a baller. I used to be actually excited. Honestly, he could not have been a greater match for that point and to ease all people’s minds.
I had no thought what he was going to be like. And then he confirmed up and blew away all expectations.
Gabriel devoted a ton of additional time to throwing periods together with his cross catchers, even internet hosting a Dime Time retreat in the summertime that turned an annual custom for Gabriel. Receivers bear in mind them effectively: Lots of throwing within the indoor apply facility with Gabriel’s growth field blasting.
Stoops: When the coaches could not be round us within the offseason, he was in a position to educate all of us receivers the routes, the indicators and every little thing and sort of set up it for us. He was actually an ideal match when it comes to his confidence, his outgoingness to get to know new teammates, to be a pacesetter, to determine himself within the locker room.
Gabriel: At our throwing periods it could constantly be Drake, Jayden Gibson and Jalil Farooq.
Stoops: I’d attempt to be at each single one. Because, for one, Dillon’s only a jackass. For two, he’d convey his large growth field speaker.
Oklahoma TE Austin Stogner: He’d carry round that growth field speaker and blast that factor in all places.
Stoops: He’d be enjoying all his bizarre EDM songs and he’d be dancing and all this s—. It simply turned only a very enjoyable factor to be round.
Anderson: Any time there’s any kind of music on, he is busting a transfer. It may not be one of the best transfer, however he is busting it. I do not know if he is nonetheless on it, however he had a UK rap stint that he was on. That was his factor. He all the time had that on repeat.
Stogner: He beloved British rap. He thought he was one with the British tradition as a result of he listened to British rap.
Anderson: I’m not gonna lie, he launched me to it and a few of the songs had been fireplace.
Stogner: It’s actually unreal, his music choice. He’s bought a limiteless clip in there with several types of songs. He’s going to have a robust profession within the DJ world if soccer would not work out.
The roster was gutted by offseason attrition and the Sooners struggled via a 6-7 season, this system’s first shedding season since 1998. It created intense scrutiny on Venables and his crew following this system’s current run of Big 12 titles.
Gabriel: It was a s—show for positive. But in case you have a look at these video games, it was a bunch of tight-score video games that did not go our means. We simply weren’t good in conditions and particulars. I believe we simply discovered from these moments as a crew and bought higher.
Anderson: Off the sector, Dillon is a goofy, charismatic man. But as quickly as he straps on that helmet, it is like an entire new presence. I really feel like that basically helped us as a crew mildew collectively. He was coolheaded in powerful conditions. He was simply any person you would actually rally behind.
Stoops: The mindset within the offseason was we will bust our ass, we will throw extra, we will meet extra, we will research final yr’s tape and repair any errors going into this yr. We wished to have a very good rapport and an understanding of one another as quarterbacks and as receivers. And, I imply, it positively confirmed going into that second yr.
No second was extra memorable in Oklahoma’s 10-win 2023 season than the ultimate minute in opposition to rival Texas within the Cotton Bowl. That’s when Gabriel orchestrated the primary and solely game-winning go-ahead drive of his profession.
Stoops: That was one among my favourite moments of my whole time at Oklahoma. Because the yr earlier than that, we bought beat 49-0. Texas got here within the subsequent yr pondering that s— was candy. And it wasn’t.
Stogner: The yr after they bought beat 49-0 by Texas, we would do these situps with a medication ball. We’d do 49 each single time, nearly each session.
Stoops: When we had been all on the sidelines and one another, I do not know why, however I had a loopy confidence. I’m Dillon and he is wanting stoic as may be. I’m Austin Stogner and he is like, ‘Hey, we have been right here earlier than.’ All these OU-Texas video games would find yourself like this.
Anderson: When you get in these powerful conditions in a recreation, you see how severe and passionate Dillon is. It simply makes you wish to struggle a bit of further tougher, a bit of further inch only for him.
Gabriel: In that recreation, loopy s— occurs on a regular basis.
After Texas took a 30-27 lead, Oklahoma’s offense took over with 1:17 left and no timeouts. Gabriel drove them 75 yards in 5 performs. After two fast completions, he scrambled and hit Stoops for a 28-yard achieve into the pink zone. He fired the sport winner to Anderson within the again nook of the tip zone.
Sooner Magic ✨#OUDNA | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/g46vRAJngI
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 7, 2023
Anderson: We ran the identical play on the primary play of that drive. We ran it once more and it simply occurred to pop open. If we’re being sincere, it was dangerous communication on the protection. That’s why the movement was there, simply to get some confusion again there and it labored completely. We had Walter Rouse, our left deal with, maintain up two guys. And then Dillon, off his again foot, midair, throws it to the again nook final second.
Stoops: I’ve by no means been in an environment like that. It completely erupted. You wish to speak about a game-winning drive in essentially the most essential second in one of many largest video games in all of faculty soccer? That man Dillon was as stoic as could possibly be.
Gabriel: Nic’s essentially the most elite receiver I’ve been round when it comes to bodily traits. I ain’t seen a man constructed like him: measurement, velocity, power, palms, physicality, every little thing you need. I’m glad he caught that, as a result of that is a man I’ll always remember.
Anderson: It was actually particular for me to do it with him. Coming in as a freshman, he all the time had type phrases to say — particularly after I was going via a few of my accidents — and he was all the time selecting my head up and ensuring I knew my potential and what I could possibly be.
Gabriel: We had a 10-2 season, and even that wasn’t actually the usual, you already know what I imply? We wished to be within the Big 12 championship and go within the playoff, however we fell 8 factors quick.
Gabriel went into 2023 believing it could be his closing school season. He had his greatest season but, placing up 4,033 complete yards and 42 touchdowns with simply six interceptions to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. Despite that, draft suggestions for the undersized gunslinger wasn’t favorable. He obtained a seventh spherical/undrafted grade and no Senior Bowl invite. He was devastated and needed to rethink his plan, and a possibility emerged with Oregon that he could not flip down.
Gabriel: I believed I used to be going to go to the NFL. The switch, after all, was totally different from what I believed was going to occur. But I used to be in a position to say goodbye to Leb and the coaches and the gamers this time.
Stogner: I believe followers get it confused when a participant leaves. They’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, you are not cheering for that man.’ But guys on the crew have private relationships and wish nothing however good issues for him. It’s been superior to see that he is completed so effectively, and it is not a shock for anybody who is aware of what Dillon is about.
Anderson: I used to be actually fortunate to play with a quarterback that skilled and that technical together with his kind of mindset early in my profession. He set the bar actually, actually excessive.
Stoops: I’ve by no means actually seen him have a nasty day. He hates to lose greater than something, however you do not see that man have a nasty day. People actually gravitate in the direction of that. You do not meet lots of people like that. It’s no surprise that everyone loves him. He’s only a gentle to all people.
Stogner: It was a completely totally different locker room below him. The vibes are all the time excessive with DG.
Part 3: Oregon
Gabriel is constant Marcus Mariota’s legacy of Hawaiian QBs in Eugene, however he did not come to chase data or awards. For all his achievements, he’d by no means performed in a convention championship recreation or a playoff recreation. This yr, he is chasing rings.
The Ducks got here up quick in final yr’s Pac-12 title recreation in opposition to Washington and watched the Huskies play for a nationwide title. Oregon reloaded for 2024, changing first-round choose Bo Nix with essentially the most skilled QB who has ever entered the portal.
Gabriel: I simply suppose a sixth yr is so distinctive. Not lots of people have completed it. You’ve bought to be round folks you belief, individuals who perceive. There are a whole lot of vets right here. It’s most likely the oldest crew I’ve been on. They’re mature. They deal with success effectively they usually deal with adversity effectively.
Oregon HC Dan Lanning: Everyone instructed me that he was zero frills. He simply wished to find out about soccer, what the state of affairs seems like and he cares about his household. That’s precisely what it was. It wasn’t going to be about what his locker appeared like when he bought right here or the unbelievable amenities we have now. None of that mattered to him. It’s who am I going to get to throw to? What are we going to be working? Will my household be capable to get right here to observe me play?
Oregon AD Rob Mullens: You really feel such as you’re speaking to a 30-year-old. He’s simply very mature, very articulate, excessive self-awareness. He’s mature and sensible past his years. He’s bought a excessive emotional intelligence. He will get it. He understands how groups work.
Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson: I used to be nonetheless sort of in between placing my title into the draft or coming again for my senior yr, and truthfully I used to be leaning extra in the direction of leaving. He referred to as me after I was again house and gave me the recruiting spiel about why I ought to come again for yet one more yr. Knowing that you’ve got a man like that’s sort of a giant a part of why I got here again.
He stated he wished to win one thing value profitable. That was the most important factor. He wished to win one thing particular.
Gabriel simply turned 24 over the weekend. He’s engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Zo Caswell, who made the transfer with him to the Pacific Northwest. And he is driving a minivan, a white Chrysler Pacifica, round city. He most popular the gasoline mileage and additional seating for teammates.
Oregon WR Evan Stewart: He confirmed me the minivan first when he bought it. That’s him. That’s simply him. He’s a household man. He stated he wished to have a minivan to have the ability to maneuver all his household round each time they got here for video games. You cannot knock it.
Oregon WR Tez Johnson: It’s excellent for him. He’s a brief man. You see him in a minivan and you are like, ‘Oh my god, there goes Dillon.’ Then he comes and pulls up, honks the horn, music blasting. He’s a distinct man. He’s a distinct cat.
Ferguson: I find yourself driving it generally. He’s from Hawai’i and … he isn’t the best driver. But I’ve spent a whole lot of time within the van. We’re neighbors, so we find yourself carpooling each from time to time.
He cares quite a bit about all people on the crew. It would not matter in case you’re a walk-on kicker or the beginning receiver. He cares about that individual and has good dialog with them. He gained the entire crew over by simply being that man, by being himself.
Johnson: He got here in and accepted that our judgment was very, very onerous on any quarterback that got here in. You bought to suppose, the yr earlier than, who our quarterback was. Coming in, to have the ability to separate your self from who was there earlier than, it is a totally different feeling. I can solely think about what he thought. But we welcomed him in with open arms, however I instructed him, ‘You’re not an actual Duck till you play your first recreation right here.’ He was like, ‘Oh, I settle for it.’ And from there, it has been … skyrocket.
Johnson stated they go into each recreation aiming to be the quickest and most explosive crew in school soccer.
Gabriel: It’s most likely essentially the most dynamic receiver group I’ve had. At UCF, we had a whole lot of vertical velocity. OU was measurement and velocity exterior, a bit of smaller and shifty inside. Over right here, I really feel like we have now a dynamic group of men which have their skills and do various things and all convey one thing to the desk. And then, ball in hand, they’re fairly particular. You can throw it 5 yards they usually’ll flip it into one thing large.
Johnson: It can flip into yard soccer at instances. You run round throwing the soccer like recess. But we additionally work on scramble drills. If Dillon scrambles a method, we all know precisely what level to get to and what time we have to get to it and he hits it. That’s how he separates himself.
Gabriel: Tez is explosive quick. He’s long-speed quick. He can speed up. He has stop-and-go capability. You cannot even speak about his measurement, as a result of it is by no means been a difficulty. He simply performs ball. He’s elite in that means.
I like Evan. I’ve been making an attempt to get that man for years. I bear in mind following him [on social media] after I first bought to Oklahoma and he did not observe me again, as a result of I believed he was going to depart [Texas A&M]. And then when he entered the portal and we had the possibility to get him and he bought on the go to, I used to be like, ‘Bro, I gotta play with you. This s— has been destined to occur, you already know?’ He’s a fantastic child, top-notch.
We name Trae the wild youngster. But the explanations he has challenges are the identical causes you’re keen on him as a participant. He ain’t scared to get soiled or get hit as a receiver.
Johnson: The receivers love him. It’s the chemistry that you’ve got with him if you go on the market. Before a play, he offers you that appear to be, ‘Hey, this ball is coming.’ Even in case you drop a cross, he is coming proper again to you subsequent play to get your confidence again up. It’s stuff like that you do not take as a right that, as a quarterback, you want.
Gabriel has thrown landing passes to 9 totally different Ducks this season. On Nov. 9, he broke Keenum’s NCAA document for complete touchdowns (178) with a 3-yard landing cross in opposition to Maryland.
The receiver for that historic second? Gernorris Wilson, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound backup offensive deal with.
Just like all of us predicted…@_dillongabriel_‘s historic landing goes to none apart from @WilsonGernorris 🔥#GoDucks x @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/F9uOcznydV
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 10, 2024
Wilson: Man, I ain’t suppose I used to be going to catch that proper there. I believed that was over my head. But you bought to name God. I referred to as Him and He answered the prayers, so I bought that job completed.
Gabriel: That was hilarious. I’m simply joyful for him, as a result of G-Baby is G-Baby, you already know? We practiced it and we had been like 50-50 most likely between catches and drops. But there was by no means a doubt that G-Baby goes to be good on recreation day.
Wilson: It wasn’t only a second for me. That was for the entire O-line, truthfully. That was for each large man on the market.
Gabriel has led Oregon on a 13-0 run and its first College Football Playoff look in a decade. In the most important challenges of their season — in opposition to No. 2 Ohio State, in a highway comeback at Wisconsin and within the Big Ten title recreation in opposition to No. 3 Penn State — he has delivered his greatest performances.
Lanning: This crew believes in him. They’re grateful each day that they get to step on the sector with him. He’s about connection and other people first. But the poise that he reveals in large video games is unmeasured. I have never been round gamers like Dillon. I’m actually grateful I get to share the sector with him.
Johnson: Those large video games, we nonetheless do not understand how in these large video games he finds a option to separate himself. It’s one thing he bought in his veins that we can not pinpoint. No lights get too large for him.
Ferguson: I’ve watched his tape earlier than at Oklahoma and UCF. He all the time reveals up in large video games. Just figuring out him within the offseason and the way a lot work he places in, I already knew that is what he was going to do. He rises to the competitors. He’s going to play his greatest ball in opposition to one of the best groups.
Lanning: When the second’s the most important, that is when Dillon is essentially the most stoic and level-set for these moments. I believe that is when he is calmest.
The teammates who know him greatest really feel invested within the Ducks’ College Football Playoff run. They wish to see Gabriel shut out his six-year journey on high.
Williams: When he was a freshman and a sophomore, he would make sure errors and generally it could price us. He was a younger man, he performed rather well, however we misplaced some shut video games as a result of he wasn’t skilled. Seeing him play in opposition to Ohio State, it was like night time and day. Nothing rattled him. He’d go in there and throw a landing and are available proper again to the sideline. It was like nothing bothers him now. I believe he is tremendous locked in, and that is actually cool to see.
Stoops: I all the time make certain to observe Dillon after I can. I could not be happier for him. Shoot, I hope they win the nationwide championship. I’m going to be rooting for them and rooting for him particularly.
Nixon: It simply goes to point out if in case you have religion and a piece ethic and you’ve got contagious power like he does, man, you will achieve success wherever you go. That’s a credit score to the individual he’s, unquestionably.
Anderson: If there’s anyone that deserves a nationwide championship, it is positively him. Because of all of the work I’ve seen him put in and all of the trials and tribulations that he is gone via. I really feel like they will go all the best way.
Gabriel was requested one closing query on the finish of an hourlong dive into his reminiscence financial institution. He has thrown 153 landing passes in school. Which one is his favourite? Gabriel paused and contemplated earlier than grinning.
Gabriel: The subsequent one.
