Brent Venables addresses whether Dillon Gabriel could return in 2024

Oklahoma Still Have a Lot to Play For

In this second season with Oklahoma, Dillon Gabriel has been healthy and the results have paid off. Brent Venables has his team in position to win 10 games, a potentially incredible achievement after last season’s losing record. Gabriel has become a hero in Norman as well, especially after his game-winning drive against Texas at the Cotton Bowl.

While the assumption might be that 2023 might be Gabriel’s last in college football, Venables is not completely shutting the door. When asked if Gabriel could return next year, Venables said there had not been any conversations about it. However, he did note his quarterback’s improvement year over year.

“We haven’t had those conversations,” Venables said. “He’s played a long time, he’s been through a lot. I think a year ago, the talk was ‘He had a good year, why would you want to come back? You could come back and have a bad year.’ But what’s he done? He’s come back and had an even better year.

“He’s played a lot of college football. He’s had to overcome some injuries… We haven’t talked about that, though.”

If he wanted to return, you would have to assume Gabriel would be a welcomed presence. Oklahoma is making the transition into the SEC and having an experienced quarterback would be a plus for the program. Not having to bring along a new starter would likely raise the ceiling of their 2024 record.

The new starter Oklahoma would have to bring along likely would be Jackson Arnold. A former Five-Star Plus+ product, Venables recently announced the plan is the redshirt Arnold. Already playing in four games this year, appearing in the final two games of the regular season would burn the opportunity.

Arnold could have the chance to get action in whatever bowl game Oklahoma plays in.

But when healthy, Gabriel has been the starter over the last two seasons. There would be no reason for Venables to switch things up if the quarterback decides one more season of college football. Even with COVID-19 extending the career timelines of some players, having a sixth-year player is going to be rare in 2024.

Oklahoma still has a ton to play for in the 2023 season. A spot in the Big 12 Championship is still on the line, while two wins could send the Sooners to a New Year’s Six bowl game, no matter the situation with the conference title game.

Gabriel will have some time to choose between a final year in Norman and giving it a shot in the NFL.