With the announcement that Dillon Gabriel is set to start his first NFL game in Week 5, there is no better time to reflect on his college football career, a journey across six years and three teams that resulted in a trip to New York and a place in the college football records book. A look at Gabriel’s college stats showcases a playmaker who is both experienced and productive.
Dillon Gabriel Put the Nation on Notice as a UCF Freshman
A three-star high school recruit out of Hawaii with college football lineage and state records in his pockets, Gabriel landed with the UCF Golden Knights in the 2019 class, flipping his original commitment from Army. He came off the bench in the season-opener against the Florida A&M Rattlers, impressing with 127 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut.
A path to college football history began that day, with Gabriel earning his first start a week later against the FAU Owls. The talented dual-threat led the Knights to a 3-0 start and a win over the Stanford Cardinal before throwing an interception, and carried the team to a 10-3 record with a passing touchdown in every single game. He was also named the Gasparilla Bowl MVP.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 76.4 (C)
- Completions: 236
- Attempts: 398
- Yards: 3,653
- TDs: 29
- INTs: 7
- Rush Attempts: 71
- Rush Yards: 78
- Rush TDs: 4
Dillon Gabriel’s Sensational Sophomore Season in Orlando
The 2020 college football season was the most disrupted in the history of the sport, but Gabriel was able to give the UCF fans something to smile about with a sensational sophomore campaign. Firmly entrenched as the starter after his freshman success, he led the AAC with 3,570 yards and 32 touchdowns and finished the year second nationally for total yards per game.
A sign of the record-breaking college career to come, he threw for over 400 yards in four different games, establishing a program record while ending the season with the second-most passing touchdowns in UCF history. Gabriel’s offensive prowess saw him named a semi-finalist for both the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 76.6 (C)
- Completions: 248
- Attempts: 413
- Yards: 3,570
- TDs: 32
- INTs: 4
- Rush Attempts: 72
- Rush Yards: 169
- Rush TDs: 2
Season-Ending Injury Derails Junior Campaign
Gabriel entered his junior campaign riding the high of two productive seasons. However, three games in, disaster struck. With the 2-0 Knights locked in a duel with the Louisville Cardinals, in a game where the UCF quarterback threw three scores and ran for another, he took a big hit and fractured his clavicle, ending his season — and ultimately his time in Orlando.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 70
- Attempts: 102
- Yards: 814
- TDs: 9
- INTs: 3
- Rush Attempts: 24
- Rush Yards: 125
- Rush TDs: 2
Dillon Gabriel Becomes Latest Oklahoma Sooners Sensation
At the end of his junior season, Gabriel announced that he was entering the college football transfer portal. A hot commodity despite suffering a season-ending injury in 2021, he initially committed to the UCLA Bruins. However, he flipped his decision to the Oklahoma Sooners, reuniting with his offensive coordinator from UCF, Jeff Lebby, for the 2022 college campaign.
With Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler both departing Norman, Gabriel quickly earned the starting role with the Sooners. Continuing a rich history of productive playmakers under center, Gabriel put together the third 3,000 passing yard season of his career, while having a career-year on the ground. Despite missing one game with injury, he earned an honorable All-Big 12 mention and was named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 76.3 (C)
- Completions: 230
- Attempts: 367
- Yards: 3,168
- TDs: 25
- INTs: 6
- Rush Attempts: 89
- Rush Yards: 315
- Rush TDs: 6
Setting Sooners’ Records in Senior Season
In his second season with the Sooners, Gabriel established himself as one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the country. Flashing the rushing ability that had made him the No. 15 dual-threat in the country, he set career highs for rushing yards and touchdowns, while becoming the first Oklahoma quarterback to throw for over 250 and rush for more than 100 in the bitter Red River Rivalry matchup with the Texas Longhorns.
Furthermore, Gabriel entered the Sooners’ record book by scoring eight touchdowns against the West Virginia Mountaineers, a performance that earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. It was one of many accolades, as the Oklahoma quarterback earned All-Big 12 first-team honors while being named a Manning Award finalist.
Still, the best was yet to come.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 88.1 (B+)
- Completions: 266
- Attempts: 384
- Yards: 3,660
- TDs: 30
- INTs: 6
- Rush Attempts: 93
- Rush Yards: 373
- Rush TDs: 12
Dillon Gabriel Ends College Career in Style With Oregon
At the end of the 2023 season, Gabriel opted to enter the transfer portal once again, taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility. He committed to the Oregon Ducks, replacing Bo Nix in an offense that had been one of the most electric in the country. It was no different with the former UCF and Oklahoma dual-threat under center, with Oregon winning the Big Ten at the first attempt, and their quarterback earning national recognition.
Posting a career-high 3,857 passing yards, Gabriel earned All-America honors from multiple outlets, was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and the Heisman Trophy. The Oregon quarterback ended his career in record-breaking style, with an unheard of 189 total touchdowns.
Gabriel also tied the FBS record for passing touchdowns (155) and sits second for career passing yards (18,722) and total yards (19,931). The UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon standout started 63 career games, the most by a quarterback in FBS history, and a marker that might never be beaten.
- PFSN College QBi Score: 82.5 (B-)
- Completions: 326
- Attempts: 447
- Yards: 3,857
- TDs: 30
- INTs: 6
- Rush Attempts: 75
- Rush Yards: 149
- Rush TDs: 7
