Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel adjusting to new program, coach and coordinator after transfer from UCF

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Dillon Gabriel gained’t let a better profile or fancy new environment change his low-key method.

He has had loads of success as a school quarterback — he handed for greater than 8,000 yards and 70 touchdowns at Central Florida whereas main among the nation’s best offenses.

After transferring to Oklahoma, he’ll now be the beginning quarterback for a program that has produced Heisman Trophy winners Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray on the place up to now 20 years.

Gabriel is conscious of what Oklahoma quarterbacks have meant to the game, and he’ll get a reminder on Saturday when Mayfield’s Heisman statue is revealed at Heisman Park throughout from Memorial Stadium.

“I don’t take this place calmly,” the 6-foot left-hander mentioned. “I do know it’s a privilege to be on this place.”

Gabriel values every step on this journey, and he mentioned an necessary one will probably be Saturday’s spring recreation. He’ll play some on each the Crimson and White groups.

“I believe quite a lot of issues have been going one million miles per hour since I received right here, proper?” he mentioned. “Simply attempting to be targeted. Attempting to maintain the principle factor the principle factor. However form of being on the again finish of spring ball, I’m tremendous grateful to be right here. I like this place.”

The strain will probably be on. He will probably be anticipated to maintain the Sooner offense rolling now that coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams have left for USC and quarterback Spencer Rattler has transferred to South Carolina. He’s ignoring what outsiders say and specializing in what he has relied on to get this far — arduous work.

“I believe as of proper now, I actually haven’t finished something on the sector,” Gabriel mentioned. “So, you recognize, strolling round, I’m simply the identical outdated dude.”

Gabriel’s mentality has made a constructive impression on new coach Brent Venables.

“He has these particular qualities,” Venables mentioned. “He’s very humble. He’s not loud and braggadocious and making any form of proclamations. He doesn’t must. He does it (features respect) along with his work, his competitiveness, his toughness. He clearly has road credibility with the gamers due to what he has finished at a excessive degree.”

Gabriel performed for then-UCF offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby in 2019, and the Knights’ offense ranked second nationally in yards per recreation (540.5) and fifth in factors per recreation (43.4). Gabriel’s transition at Oklahoma has been smoother now that Lebby is the Sooners’ offensive coordinator after a profitable run at Ole Miss.

“I believe it goes means again from a belief standpoint,” Gabriel mentioned. “I actually belief him, love enjoying in his offense — the way in which he’s in a position to strategically use individuals and put them in good positions to go play and win quite a lot of ballgames whereas scoring quite a lot of factors.”

As a result of Lebby’s offense hasn’t modified a lot, Gabriel has been in a position to steer his teammates.

“I might say Dillon is aware of the playbook higher than everyone,” offensive lineman Anton Harrison mentioned. “That is his offense. He helps us lots. We want him and discuss to him lots with the playbook and the tempo. Typically, he can name it out for us as a result of he is aware of it so nicely. It’s been nice having him again there at quarterback as a result of he may help us and educate us.”

Nonetheless, there have been delicate modifications that Gabriel has needed to choose up this spring.

“I believe everybody continues to evolve — verbiage, terminology — no matter you need to name it,” Gabriel mentioned. “There’ll perpetually be new performs inside everybody’s offense yr to yr. There have been challenges to myself, however we’ll proceed to get again into it. It’s undoubtedly helped having prior information, for positive.”

Gabriel has prioritized constructing a rapport along with his receivers. A precedence has been connecting with Marvin Mims, a speedster who caught 5 landing passes final season and averaged 22 yards per catch.

“He’s among the finest I’ve been round,” Gabriel mentioned. “Velocity. All-around receiver. Very bodily, and normally from velocity guys, you don’t actually see that. In order that’s one thing very new. Simply throughout, man, he goes up and will get it. He’s extraordinarily proficient.”

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