Indianapolis — The Big Ten saved its best for last.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wearing a cream-colored suit, green tie and Oregon Ducks lapel pin, looked every bit the star his school and conference need him to be as he helped close things down at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
At a Big Ten Media Days week strangely devoid of player star power, Gabriel represented one of the Big Ten’s biggest names even if he’s brand new to the conference. It’s been the Summer of Dillon as a seemingly endless stream of positive press rolls in for his on-field play and NIL work off the field. The Oregon quarterback recently passed Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as the Heisman Trophy preseason betting favorite. Gabriel even got the blessing of the one previous Oregon Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota, to wear his No. 8 jersey.
The 23-year-old Gabriel, with a megawatt smile and preternatural ease about him, has well-handled all the hype and attention that comes with that kind of preseason label.
“I don’t think that’s new for him,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning told CBS Sports. “It’s something that’s existed in his career and he’s always been a guy who is really good at level-setting, staying humble and grounded, and where he’s at. Family means everything to him. The way he leads and attacks each day, I think that’s been great evidence of his approach and how he handles things. I’ve been really pleased with it.”
For a burgeoning superstar, Gabriel is unique in many ways. While he has people who help him navigate NIL and other business opportunities, he will still personally reach out to reporters to set up interviews for topics he’s passionate about (and did so in May). Gabriel was generous with his time in a separate another interview with a reporter he’s known for years, gushing about a high school quarterback prospect from Hawaii named Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, who Gabriel says will break all his state records.
You don’t need an open records request to know that Gabriel, like all high-end transfer quarterbacks, got a handsome chunk of change to choose their new destination (we’ve reported the market range for QBs this offseason was in the $500,000 to $800,000 range). Gabriel’s one big NIL-related splurge on himself so far? He famously drives a minivan. Lanning said he’s still waiting on his invite to get a ride in it.
The sixth-year senior has been around the block, going from Central Florida to Oklahoma to now Oregon, and those experiences have given him the wisdom that powers his outlook. In those previous five seasons, Gabriel threw for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. He’s the face of a program that has been very aggressive in acquiring talent out of the transfer portal, with many within the sport believing Oregon has one of, if not the, biggest NIL financial war chest. While Gabriel hasn’t met super booster Phil Knight yet, he’s acutely aware of his importance in trying to get the Ducks a national championship.
“Uncle Phil, he’s the man,” Gabriel said.
And with a supporting cast that includes one of the nation’s best collections of receiver talent, Gabriel makes Oregon a legitimate championship contender. It’s why he’s become such a popular Heisman pick, though he isn’t celebrating anything that happens in the preseason. He’s seen and been through too much to do that, knowing all the ways things can change in a heartbeat on the field.
“Talk is cheap and hype is cheap for players,” Gabriel said. “What happens preseason doesn’t necessarily affect anything when the season comes around. I acknowledge it and appreciate the excitement and everyone getting excited for the season, but the truth is when we line it up, clock starts and kick off hits, we’re rolling. You have to produce and it’s what have you done for me lately.”
Since joining the Oregon program, Gabriel has done everything in his power to hit the ground running with his new teammates. He recently took the offensive skill players on an all-expenses paid retreat to Grants Pass, a continuation of the “DimeTime” retreat he started while at Oklahoma. The getaway included free gear for the guys, including Oakley sunglasses. And, yes, he drove some of his teammates in the minivan.
“It’s really special because no one does that,” Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson told CBS Sports. “It’s out of his own pocket. Just trying to give back and make everyone have a good time.”
Ferguson told Gabriel when the QB picked Oregon that the two would become best friends, whether Gabriel liked it or not. That’s played true to form as the two have quickly built a strong bond, on and off the field. Ferguson even accompanied Gabriel back to Hawaii when the star quarterback used some of his NIL earnings to donate new uniforms to his high school alma mater, seeing firsthand how much Gabriel’s family and community mean to him. Gabriel told CBS Sports before that May event that there’s more to come and eventually he wants to donate a new weight room to the school.
It’s all been part of a dream offseason for Gabriel. He has said and done all the right things, getting both the Oregon fanbase and national experts excited about what’s to come this season in Eugene. The hype has never been higher for the 5-foot-11 quarterback, and yet he’s not rattled by it. He’s been building to a moment like this for six years, and he’s ready for it.
And if he accomplishes what many believe he can, expect to see Gabriel all over your televisions in the coming months.
MORE: Gabriel, Lanning explain what makes OC Will Stein so successful
