Dillon Gabriel talks about what attracted him to Oregon football
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel talks about joining the Ducks for his final year of college, his daily routine and why he likes Eugene.
His Oregon football teammates were gathered in the stands at Autzen Stadium, and his infamous white minivan had pulled into the west end zone. Dillon Gabriel stood before the assembled group and thanked them for their hard work during the three grueling weeks of fall camp.
Then, with a click of his keychain, Gabriel opened the minivan’s back door to reveal a load of gifts for each player – green and yellow Beats by Dre headphones in a hard case.
The players’ exuberant reaction was captured by the show’s digital media team.
“Shout out to the quarterback!” shouted wide receiver Traeshon Holden as he reached into the car to get his suitcase.
The scene was emblematic of Gabriel’s first eight months in Eugene since the sixth-year senior transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon to finish his statistically great college career on a Ducks team that had legitimate national championship aspirations but needed a starting quarterback after the graduation of Bo Nix.
Since arriving in January, Gabriel has proven himself to be an inclusive team leader and community-minded philanthropist who is both social media savvy and takes advantage of new economic opportunities for amateur athletes.
His name, image and likeness is valued at $1.2 million by on3.com, making him the ninth highest value among college football players and also includes his contract to participate in NIL’s exclusive “Beats Elite” campaign.
Gabriel has made sure that his teammates also benefit from his sponsorships, although they are not the only ones.
In May, the Hawaii native was back in Honolulu to host an “I’m Inspired” event at his former high school, where he gifted the Mililano Trojans football team new Nike uniforms and helmets. A year earlier, he did the same for the basketball, soccer and volleyball teams.
“Dillon does a really good job of making sure everyone is included and feels important,” Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq said.
He’s also really good at football, and that will matter most Saturday when Gabriel and the No. 3 Ducks open their highly anticipated season against Idaho at 4:30 p.m. at Autzen Stadium.
Dillon Gabriel is already an all-time great
Make no mistake: Gabriel’s lucrative off-field ventures are a direct result of his on-field success.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-hander ranks fourth in NCAA history in passing touchdowns (152), seventh in total yards (15,925), eighth in passing yards (14,865) and eighth in passing touchdowns (125) – numbers accumulated over the course of a career that includes 49 starts between three seasons at Central Florida and two seasons at Oklahoma.
Last year with the Sooners, he completed 266 of 384 passes for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran 93 times for 373 yards and 12 scores.
Now he takes over a productive Ducks offense that has numerous weapons at every position.
The combination of Gabriel’s past success with Oregon’s current roster has brought him to the attention of the college football world. He is considered a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and was named Big Ten Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-Conference Quarterback in the preseason media poll.
“That’s why we play the game,” Gabriel said of the preseason hype. “Let me put it this way: I think at some point you dream of a silver platter and you’re always working to get it. Then when you have it in front of you, the stage is set, all eyes are on you and you can show what you’re all about.”
While Gabriel is new to Oregon fans and Big Ten opponents, he has several teammates who know his talent firsthand.
Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad was the starter for Oklahoma State when the Cowboys lost to the Sooners in 2022.
Gabriel threw for 259 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the 28-13 victory. He also ran six times for 30 yards and one touchdown.
“We talk about it sometimes,” Muhammad said, smiling. “He’s a fielder. Everything went through him. He stayed calm. It was obviously a big game, it was Bedlam, a big rivalry game. He stayed calm, nothing got on his nerves, and he went out there and executed. That’s pretty much how I remember it, and he’s the same guy.”
Safety Kobe Savage, then at Kansas State, helped the Wildcats beat the Sooners in 2022, even though Gabriel threw for 330 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 66 yards.
“Dillon is a fighter,” Savage said. “We were beat early in the game, but no matter how it felt, he was still there. He’s a great quarterback. He does a lot with a little and now he has a lot, so it will be amazing to see what he can do with our offense.”
Gabriel got a taste of the Ducks’ offense in the spring game, completing 14 of 21 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Since then he has been working on his recovery.
“Time is of the essence,” said Gabriel. “Learning an attack strategy and mastering it is like getting a new car. There are new buttons and accessories, but you have to go out and race, and knowing more about it allows you to do more fun tricks and show off while doing it. I just feel like I’ve got it down pat now.”
Dillon Gabriel drives in style
Speaking of cars: Yes, Oregon’s 23-year-old starting quarterback drives a minivan. On purpose.
“He still drives with style,” tight end Terrance Ferguson said with a laugh. “It’s a nice van.”
This serves a purpose, as Gabriel can summon his teammates at a moment’s notice to throw the ball or build team spirit.
“He doesn’t want to have the fastest car, he doesn’t want to have the loudest car,” quarterback Dante Moore said. “He just wants to be someone who can pick up his receivers, his tight ends and his teammates and make sure they do their jobs.”
In June, he took a few dozen teammates to Grants Pass for a “Dime Time” retreat – an annual event he started in Oklahoma – where players could relax, get to know each other better, but also get to know their new quarterback better.
“We just had a blast,” Gabriel said. “Whether it was throwing practice in the morning, a little lunch, a jet boat ride where everyone got wet. … We just had a blast together when we took the time away from football and the chores that we had to do.”
His teammates acknowledged his achievement.
“He took everyone with him,” Ferguson said. “Not just the starters or the back two, he took everyone with him and he made sure he looked after everyone. I think that’s really important for us because that’s the guy we go to war with, the guy who leads the team. He’s connected with everyone and everyone can get behind him.”
This is also necessary for the Ducks to handle a schedule that includes two preseason top-10 teams and also puts expectations on the team that have probably never been higher.
“We have a lot of talented players on this team. That’s why there’s so much noise,” Gabriel said. “But at the end of the day, talking doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to buckle your chin strap and let it fly. I’m looking forward to that.”
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