Overview Dillon Gabriel (born December 28, 2000) is an American college football quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. He has played for multiple college teams, including UCF and Oklahoma, before transferring to Oregon in December 2023. Gabriel is known for his impressive passing abilities and has surpassed 15,000 passing yards in his college career.
Early Years Gabriel attended Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. As a senior in 2018, he was named the Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year for Hawaii after passing for 3,754 yards and 38 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with 9,948 passing yards and 105 touchdowns.
College Career Gabriel began his college career at UCF in 2019. Initially the backup to Brandon Wimbush, he took over as the starting quarterback during the first game of the season and started the final 12 games. Gabriel led the Knights to a 10-3 record, capping the season with a victory in the Gasparilla Bowl. He finished the season with 3,653 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
In his sophomore year, Gabriel led UCF to a 6-4 record and an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. However, his season was cut short in 2021 due to a broken left clavicle sustained during a game against Louisville. Gabriel announced his transfer from UCF in November 2021 and initially committed to UCLA before ultimately transferring to Oklahoma in December 2021.
At Oklahoma, Gabriel continued to excel, earning First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 and Second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2022. He transferred to Oregon in December 2023, where he has continued to make a significant impact. In the 2024 season, Gabriel completed 297 passes for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
2024 Rose Bowl Performance Gabriel’s performance in the 2024 Rose Bowl was notable, despite the Ducks’ loss to Ohio State. He faced challenges with key injuries to his teammates but managed to lead the team with determination.
Personal Life Gabriel’s parents are ethnic native Hawaiians. His father played quarterback at the University of Hawaii, and his mother played college softball. Gabriel is known for his strong work ethic and dedication to both his athletic and academic pursuits.
Future Aspirations Gabriel is projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has committed to playing in the Senior Bowl, the first major event in the pre-draft process. Analysts believe Gabriel will be a “riser” during the pre-draft process, and he is expected to have a promising future in professional football.
