Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has had a masterful season at the helm of the Oregon Ducks, finishing third in Heisman voting while leading the squad to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
As he prepares for the CFP, questions about the sixth-year senior’s draft stock will continue to rise with the NFL Draft right around the corner.
Dillon Gabriel Confident He Can Succeed in the NFL
When asked how he would sell himself to an NFL general manager, Gabriel responded, “I don’t think I have to sell anything. I’m very confident on who I am.”
Talking to Dillon Gabriel on why he can be a franchise QB in the NFL and how being a 2x free agent in college football will ease the transition to whatever team selects him come April. @InfSportsNet @_dillongabriel_ pic.twitter.com/5uSeSmo6zY
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) December 14, 2024
Gabriel continued, saying, “I’ve been a free agent twice. Went through the whole experience and you look at the programs I’ve been a part of. Everywhere I’ve been, success has followed. It’s more than just wins and losses. It’s the type of person I am. I take pride in that.”
Gabriel, a three-star recruit from Mililani, Hawai’i, began his career at UCF, starting 25 games in three seasons. He made a name for himself with the Knights, throwing 70 touchdowns to only 14 interceptions, while leaving the school ranked fifth in all-time passing yards.
He then transferred to Oklahoma in 2022, where he led the Sooners to a 16-8 record, scoring 73 total touchdowns in two seasons.
His final stop, in Eugene, Oregon as the leader of the Ducks, has been his finest. While leading the Ducks to a 13-0 record, Gabriel placed himself in the midst of the Heisman conversation with his clutch plays on display.
A prime example was his performance against the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in mid-October. With the nation watching, the Buckeyes led the Ducks, 31-29, with exactly 6:00 minutes on the clock. Gabriel, in possession of the ball, led an 11-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard field goal to put Oregon up for good.
Gabriel’s final stat line was excellent — 23 of 34, 341 yards, and two touchdowns to go along with 32 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Ducks have been ranked No. 1 in the country ever since.
NFL scouts may also want to take a look at Oregon’s gritty 16-13 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison.
Enduring easily his worst game of the season, Gabriel’s true character was on full display — the competitive drive and determination to get the job done regardless of how it gets done.
With the Badgers leading 13-6, Oregon faced a fourth-and-9 decision from the Wisconsin 41-yard line heading into the fourth quarter. They decided to go for it. Gabriel, facing pressure, escaped the pocket to his left before finding tight end Terrence Ferguson for a 15-yard gain. The Ducks scored the tying touchdown three plays later and eventually won the game 16-13, keeping their Big Ten Championship Game hopes alive.
Those are the moments that scouts will see — the moxie and confidence in the face of pressure. Those flashes may cause scouts to fall in love with Gabriel despite his small stature.
While he’s been billed as a mid-to-late-round draft pick — largely due to his height (5’11”) and lack of elite arm talent — Gabriel’s college football career isn’t finished just yet.
Oregon will face the winner of the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
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Winning that game — and continued success in the CFP — could go a long way toward raising Gabriel’s draft stock. And you bet he’s confident he can do that.
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