Dillon Gabriel is one of college football’s most electric passers. In his four full seasons as a starting quarterback (two with UCF and two with Oklahoma), Gabriel has never thrown for less than 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has become one of the most explosive arms in college football. So when he decided to transfer to Oregon, the most explosive offense in the country, the fit was seamless, and the hype behind it has been off the charts.
Before even taking a snap in the bright Oregon Duck colors, Gabriel has been linked as a Heisman Trophy favorite, and according to Cody Nagel of 24/7 Sports, he is already the best quarterback in the Big Ten. Nagel released his Big Ten quarterback rankings this past week and had Gabriel in the top spot ahead of Penn State’s Drew Allar and Ohio State’s Will Howard.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning loves Dillon Gabriel's fit with the Ducks in the post-Bo Nix era.
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 25, 2024
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This is a unique year for the Big Ten, especially at the quarterback position, as eight of Nagel’s top nine are all full-time starters at their school for the first time. Five of these are transfers (including Gabriel), and the other three are the full-time starting QBs for the first time. Penn State’s Drew Allar is the only quarterback within the top half of the ranking to have started an entire season of games with the school he is playing for this season. That said, there is still much experience coming to the Big Ten, as four transfers have been full-time starters at their previous schools.
Even if it is his first season in Eugene, Gabriel sitting atop this list is the correct call. He has the most playing experience of any quarterback in the conference and has the most extensive resume and arm talent out of anyone in the Big Ten. Oregon should be a national championship contender again, with him at quarterback, and Gabriel should have a chance to add a Heisman to his already impressive resume in college football.
