When Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel takes the field at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, he’ll be carrying more than just the weight of the Ducks’ College Football Playoff hopes on his shoulders. The 24-year-old signal caller will also be lugging around the collective skepticism of those who believe his six years in college are more of a scarlet letter than a badge of honor.
But Gabriel, who is just three touchdowns shy of breaking the NCAA record for career passing scores, isn’t letting the doubters dampen his shine. Speaking to reporters ahead of Oregon’s semifinal showdown with Ohio State, the sixth-year senior fired back at those who’ve criticized his elongated path to prominence.
“I think a lot of people are mad that they weren’t able to play to a certain age,” Gabriel said with a smirk. “The older the player you are, I think at a certain point you gotta ask yourself, if you’ve got the biggest interview of your life, and someone said, ‘Hey, you can have six years to study or three years,’ I think anyone would say six.”
– Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks Quarterback
A Winding Road to the Record Books
Gabriel’s college odyssey began back in 2017 at UCF, where he redshirted his first year before taking over as the Knights’ starter in 2018. He promptly threw for 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns, earning AAC Rookie of the Year honors.
After two more prolific seasons at UCF, Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma in 2021 but saw his time in Norman cut short by a broken clavicle suffered in the third game of the year. The NCAA’s blanket eligibility waiver for athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic gave him an extra year, which he used to transfer to Oregon in 2022.
Now, with a chance to lead the Ducks to their first national title in school history, Gabriel is on the precipice of etching his name in the record books. His 153 career touchdown passes rank second all-time behind Houston’s Case Keenum (155) and three ahead of Texas’ Colt McCoy.
Patience, Progression, and Personal Growth
For Gabriel, though, the opportunity to rewrite the NCAA record book is secondary to the lessons he’s learned during his protracted college tenure. The Hawaii native said his elongated stay in school has allowed him to evolve both on and off the field.
“As years go on, there’s progression, there’s improvement, there’s evolution. I feel like I’ve had that chance,” Gabriel reflected. “I think there’s something to patience and believing in a person and allowing them to flourish and grow. The more opportunities you can put yourself in any situation, I think you get more comfortable with it. That’s not just football, it’s anywhere in life.”
– Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks Quarterback
That growth has been evident this season for Gabriel, who completed a career-high 73.2 percent of his passes while leading Oregon to a perfect 13-0 record. Ducks head coach Dan Lanning praised his star QB’s poise under pressure, calling it one of Gabriel’s “strongest traits.”
Chasing a Ring, Not Records
With immortality in his sights, Gabriel insists he returned to school for a sixth year not to pad his stats, but to chase the one thing that’s eluded him his entire career: a national championship.
“If I wanted individual awards, I would’ve played tennis or golf,” Gabriel said flatly. “But I am playing football.”
– Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks Quarterback
Now, he and the Ducks are just two wins away from capturing the ultimate team prize. To get there, they’ll first have to get through a Ohio State squad that handed Oregon its last loss way back in September of 2021.
The Buckeyes will surely be looking to play spoiler once again. But armed with a wealth of experience, a dangerous arsenal of weapons, and the quiet confidence of a man comfortable in his own skin, Gabriel believes this time will be different.
After all, if six years in college has taught him anything, it’s that patience and persistence eventually pay off. Why not cash in those chips on the sport’s biggest stage?
