Oregon
Was Oregon Ducks Quarterback Dillon Gabriel Close To Transferring To Ohio State Buckeyes?
How close was Oregon Ducks transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel to joining the Ohio State Buckeyes for his final college football season? After deciding to leave Oklahoma, Gabriel disclosed the fact that shortly after entering the transfer portal he spoke with Ohio State coach Ryan Day about the possibility of playing for the Buckeyes.
“It was good (conversation),” Gabriel said. “I think with anything, throughout that process, it’s just gaining information on one another. But I think the recruiting process is what it is, and I think everyone that was a quarterback in the portal was able to have conversations with different schools.”
In this case, timing played a crucial role in Gabriel’s decision. Day was certainly interested in the former Oklahoma star quarterback but wanted to take time to evaluate the play of Devin Brown in an upcoming bowl game. Former Ohio State quarterback, Kyle McCord, had announced his decision to enter the transfer portal in early December and Day was faced with finding a suitable replacement.
Gabriel, on the other hand, did not want a lengthy process and committed to coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks long before Ohio State’s bowl game appearance.
“I think going through my third recruiting process, I know it’s a stressful time for anyone who’s transferred,” said Gabriel.
“Although there’s beauty in new beginnings and all that, everyone knows the stress and a lot that comes with it, whether it’s the moving, the moving companies, the moving in, there’s just a lot that comes with it. So, the faster you can make a decision and feel good about it, be decisive, then it allows you to act accordingly.”
In the “what if” hypothetical, Gabriel was asked if he would have signed with Ohio State had an offer been forth coming. He declined to play that game.
“I don’t even know,” said Gabriel. “That’s in the past. I’m focused on the now.”
This would be an intriguing story if it ended here, but there are some details that add to the already hyped interest. Consider that Gabriel and the Ducks will host Ohio State at Autzen Stadium in early October as Oregon enters Big Ten Conference play in 2024. Ohio State will likely open with Will Howard, a transfer portal quarterback addition from Kansas State. That may not be a fair comparison as Gabriel is the odds-on-favorite to win a Heisman Trophy. Howard, on the other hand, is still in a battle for the starting job in Columbus.
Oregon’s offense exploded last year with former Ducks’ quarterback and Denver Broncos draft pick, Bo Nix at the helm and expects to repeat that performance behind Gabriel. Ohio State, while always a formidable opponent, is facing some questions. Day hired former Oregon and UCLA coach Chip Kelly as his new offensive coordinator. Speculation as to how Kelly will use Howard indicates that he may be more of a “caretaker” than a focal point of the offense. As such, he just needs to avoid turnovers and get the ball to one of his talented play makers.
Osu21ore Bjp 753 / Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Like Gabriel, who declines to wonder “what if,” Ducks’ fans can simply focus on the future, knowing that Gabriel made the right decision to come to Oregon. This can be further demonstrated on October 12 when the Buckeyes arrive for a game that has already been noted as one of, if not the most significant 2024 regular season games in college football.
The National Weather Service says there is no tsunami threat following a magnitude 5.5 earthquake off the Oregon coast.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck at 4:35 a.m. about 175 miles southwest of Eugene, Oregon, at a depth of about 6 miles in the Pacific Ocean.
National Weather Service says no tsunami threat after 5.5 quake off Oregon coast (KVAL/SBG)
The earthquake occurred in the Blanco Fracture Zone, a seismically active area where hundreds of earthquakes occur each year.
There have been no reports of residents along the southern Oregon coast feeling the quake.
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This is a developing story.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Human Services is asking for help finding a 2-year-old boy who is believed to be in danger.
Armani Andrews disappeared on June 17 and is thought to be with someone in the Portland area, officials said.
He’s about two feet tall with brown hair and brown eyes and African American/mixed race, ODHS said.
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Armani Andrews (file, courtesy Oregon Department of Human Services). -
Armani Andrews (file, courtesy Oregon Department of Human Services).
Locations around Portland that the child may have frequented include the Rose Haven shelter on Northwest Glisan Street, the Multnomah County Central Library on Southwest 10th Avenue and Southeast Portland between 82nd and 103rd avenues.
People who have any information about Andrews’ whereabouts are asked to call 911.
Every year, there are always a few recruiting races that are anything but normal. Twists and turns should be expected on the recruiting trail, but you can still always count on a surprise or two.
The Oregon Ducks have already landed four commitments along the offensive line in the 2027 recruiting cycle, most recently scoring three-star Lex Mailangi. The Ducks are still pushing for one more, however, and it’s the biggest of them all.
Five-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara has taken several visits to Eugene, including one earlier in the spring. However, the Texas star canceled his tour of official visits to finish high school early and give Gilmer High School his best effort on the field in the fall.
Those plans changed quickly when he opted to take unofficial visits to SMU and Texas in June. After once appearing to push his recruitment to the fall and commit closer to early signing day, it’s clear that Camara is now open for business, and he could be moving quickly toward a decision.
When Camara left Eugene in the spring, the Ducks were perceived as a favorite in the race. However, after spending time away and connecting with programs in his home state of Texas, Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman believes Texas is now in the lead, and was told by one of Camara’s family members that a commitment could be coming soon.
While the Longhorns are in charge, SMU, LSU, Texas A&M and Oregon all still remain involved. While he has been able to tour the Texas programs this month, Camara has remained in touch with the Ducks over FaceTime.
“Just fantastic coaches and options all around,” Camara’s guardian, Todd Robison, told Rivals. “We are also in touch regularly with Tennessee, LSU, A&M, and Alabama. He also has had very well-attended FaceTime calls with the entire staff at Oregon. He feels the love for sure.”
The Ducks still appear to be in good standing with Camara, but the inability to get him on campus this month is a big setback. Even if Camara does commit over the summer, the Ducks will likely push hard to get him back to Eugene in the fall for another visit. Don’t expect Oregon to give up on this race until pen hits paper on signing day.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
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