Dillon Gabriel added to the 2023 Manning Award watch list

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel was named to the Manning Award watch list, given to the nation’s top quarterback.

The Oklahoma Sooners are just 18 days away from the start of the [autotag]2023 college football season[/autotag]. As we approach the start of the season, more and more award watch lists begin to surface, including several Sooners.

This time it is the Manning Award watch list. This award was created in honor of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. It is the only college football quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting; because of that, it is presented annually following the completion of the bowl season.

Oklahoma’s returning gunslinger [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] is on the award’s watch list. Gabriel is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,168 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He did so while missing a game and a half.

But Gabriel returns more confident this offseason. It’s being reported that there seems to be a new level of confidence and fire under Gabriel this year. Maybe that is just from being more confident, or maybe it’s because he understands five-star [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] is waiting in the wings.

Either way, it’s never a bad thing to play with that chip-on-your-shoulder mentality.

This award is one that has been kind to Oklahoma. Former Sooners and Heisman Trophy Winners [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] took home the awards in 2017 and 2018. Gabriel hopes for a big year and to add his name to this list with the other prestigious passer in college football history.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.