ARLINGTON, TX — Whether or not it’s internet hosting his first “DimeTime Retreat” with fellow offensive playmakers at an Airbnb in Lawton, bringing his offensive linemen to Lake Thunderbird for a weekend, or simply taking his defensive teammates out to dinner in small teams, Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel has personally invested in his teammates.

And so they’ve taken discover. All of them.

“Simply the opposite day, he took me, Keshawn Lawrence and Justin Broiles out for dinner simply to do one thing with the protection,” OU cornerback Woodi Washington mentioned final week at Large 12 Media Days. “As an alternative of getting your entire protection, he advised only a few guys — after which he is going to decide on just a few the following time he goes.”

Washington mentioned it was the primary time in his 4 years on campus that an OU quarterback organized such an outing with members of the Sooner protection.

Wideout Marvin Mims mentioned it was “positively a Dillon factor,” quite than only a quarterback factor.

Gabriel’s first retreat, June 17-19, was nicely publicized on social media and went over so nicely with the operating backs, receivers, tight ends and different quarterbacks that he hosted one other getaway, July 16-17, for simply the offensive linemen.

Gabriel discovered a nine-acre ranch on-line for the primary getaway. It was the proper setting for group bonding.

“We simply frolicked on the lake, swim a bit bit, eat collectively, all collectively similar to a giant household — enormous desk, nobody else is omitted,” Mims mentioned.

Actions on the 5,000-square foot rental property — suited to 18 visitors, simply outdoors of Lawton (about 80 miles southwest of Norman) — included numerous throwing within the again yard, a bit golf at Fort Sill Golf Course, some lake time, loads of enjoyable and video games, however principally simply fellowship. And consuming. Numerous consuming.

“Made certain to eat each meal collectively,” Gabriel mentioned. “Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you understand? That was a giant level for me simply to attach with each other.”

“We needed to eat collectively,” Mims mentioned. “That was the one rule.”

That sort of interpersonal interplay, Gabriel mentioned, comes from NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and his strategies of constructing relationships with teammates. He mentioned he hadn’t accomplished something prefer it when he was at UCF, but it surely was at all times behind his thoughts. For Gabriel and his Hawaiian roots, dinner time and household time are just about the identical factor.

“You realize, at all times beloved that concept,” Gabriel mentioned, “and I believe simply after I obtained right here, my mindset was go for broke, go all in. And like I mentioned, I made it a degree to do it, and love the idea of it: two nights in a home caught collectively, you understand? I imply, like, guys sleeping on the bottom as a result of we had not sufficient beds, no matter it was, you understand? It was simply the thought of it, of us all being underneath one roof, simply being all in, being with the fellows.

“No telephones,” he continued. “Simply having fun with one another’s time whether or not it is enjoying pool, out within the again, enjoying corn gap, it is only a good time. And I believe that is simply had a huge impact on us connecting.”

Teammates say the left-handed Gabriel has a snap launch, a zipper on his throw, can actually spin it, has a excessive soccer IQ, reads protection, makes good selections — all the same old superlatives. However his biggest attributes as a quarterback are his poised demeanor and his management.

These are the qualities he actually desires his teammates and coaches to note.

“I really feel nice I can lay my head down at evening figuring out not simply what he has accomplished on the soccer subject, however the high quality of the particular person he’s,” head coach Brent Venables mentioned. “He is about all the suitable stuff. He is reliable. He is dependable. He is accountable. He is humble.

“He is one of many hardest employees. Exhibits up early, he’s final one to depart. All the time working to enhance. And he leads by instance, and guys comply with him.

“He is a galvanizer of individuals.”

Within the NIL period, quarterbacks inherently get extra alternatives. No shock there. In Gabriel’s case, he’s used his (NIL) powers for good, whether or not it’s taking teammates on weekend retreats or shopping for them dinner round Norman.

“D.G.’s positively been nice for us,” Washington mentioned. “Got here in and everyone opened our arms. He got here in, he’s main nice.”

The second retreat went off final weekend at Lake Thunderbird, about 15 miles east of Norman, and was only for “the massive boys,” as Gabriel put it. There was extra swimming, boating, fishing — and consuming, after all.

The primary one got here at a time when the Sooners had simply welcomed a bunch of summer season freshmen and transfers.

“It actually introduced everybody nearer collectively, particularly with the brand new transfers we had in,” Mims mentioned. “This was in all probability a week-and-a-half after they obtained there, so having them there was fairly particular and essential for all of us.

“It was particular.”

He’s been in Norman for nearly seven months now, however Gabriel continues to be new at OU soccer. He mentioned after a summer season spent in throwing classes with Mims, Drake Stoops, Jalil Farooq and different receivers, the retreat helped him get outdoors his consolation zone and construct one thing significant with different gamers.

“I believe it actually made me department out and proceed to develop with totally different relationships,” he mentioned. “And it is accomplished the identical for others. So simply with the ability to join with everybody, it was actually enjoyable. And like I mentioned, we had a blast.”

Preseason coaching camp begins Aug. 4, so Gabriel nonetheless has two weeks to proceed galvanizing his relationship with defensive teammates earlier than the arduous stuff begins.

From the sounds of it, that needs to be loads of time.

“I’ve simply discovered to put money into the individuals you care and love for,” Gabriel mentioned. “Whether or not it is taking the time to simply have a dialog or asking the required inquiries to be taught extra about somebody. And that (retreat) expertise, you understand, actually made me do this. We took away the telephones and — you understand, you needed to put the cellphone down and speak to individuals. So simply enjoying a sport, enjoying Madden with individuals, getting aggressive, enjoying pool, enjoying a bit pickup basketball, it was simply a good time.”

A passage in The Athletic concerning the DimeTime retreat provided a bit extra perception on Gabriel and what he’s about. The Airbnb hosts mentioned the property was spotless when the gamers left. Bear in mind, it was Gabriel who was late for the second half of the spring sport as a result of he and Mims stayed within the locker room a bit too lengthy selecting up trash.

Some quarterbacks have to actually work at projecting sure qualities and main by instance. For Gabriel, apparently, it’s second nature as a result of he values individuals and relationships.

“I’ve at all times been a individuals particular person,” Gabriel mentioned. “And I actually, actually care about relationships. I believe these are an important factor in life. As a result of in the event you actually care about somebody, you go above and past for no matter they’re asking for. That, for me, means so much.

“I like my teammates. I like everybody on this constructing. It goes farther than simply that group. The folks that assist us within the gear room. Coaching workers. The diet workers. The energy workers. Everybody has a hand on this, and I believe relationships are every part. And the place I’m in, I’ve to be that. It’s been so regular for me as a result of I’ve been doing it from a younger age.

“Simply the best way I used to be raised,” he mentioned. “Household is every part and I like my household to dying. It’s at all times been a household factor. If we’re going to the grocery retailer, everybody’s going. No matter it’s. So with this group, I attempt to mannequin the identical factor. I’m the kind of man, man, if I’m going out to eat, I’m not going it alone. I’m bringing any person. I simply suppose life is about doing it collectively.”