Oregon knew replacing Bo Nix would be a high priority after the 2023 season, but even Dan Lanning couldn’t have predicted the level of success that venture would turn out to be.
As soon as Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel announced he would be transferring away from the Sooners, Lanning couldn’t pick up his phone fast enough in order to bring Gabriel to Eugene.
Luckily for the Ducks, Gabriel came to Oregon, liked what he saw and committed shortly after his visit. According to College Wire’s own Patrick Conn, the new Duck signal caller ranks No. 3 in returning quarterbacks for the 2024 season.
Gabriel is coming off a career year with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023, where he set career highs in completion percentage, yards, yards per attempt, and rushing touchdowns,” Conn said. “The southpaw is a very mobile quarterback that can extend plays with his legs or tuck the ball and get upfield. He should fit right in with the Ducks and put up similar numbers to that of Bo Nix.”
In his last season in Norman, Okla., Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also completed 69.3 percent of his passes. A similar season should propel the Ducks into the new expanded College Football Playoff.