Joel Klatt makes case for Dillon Gabriel as Heisman contender

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt made the case for Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel to win the Heisman Trophy later this year.

What put Gabriel on the radar for college football’s biggest individual award? A legacy defining, game-winning drive over rival Texas last weekend.

With that, Gabriel pilots an undefeated Oklahoma team in the top 10 of the AP going into Week 7. Now, he should be on the Heisman watchlist.

“Here’s a guy that’s burst on the scene in the last couple of weeks,” Klatt said on his podcast. “I like Dillon Gabriel at No. 4 (on my list) fro Oklahoma. Dillon played so well against the Texas Longhorns in the biggest stage, certainly in Oklahoma’s season, and really when you’re thinking about that game, that’s one of the marquee games in all of college football.

“That is as Toby Rowland, the play by play (man) of the Oklahoma Sooners broadcast on radio, put it, that was a legacy drive at the end for Dillon Gabriel. It’s more than a legacy drive. That’s a Heisman caliber drive. What he did at the end.”

Gabriel finished the game 23-of-38 passing for 285 yards, one touchdown, 113 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

“Now Dillon’s game is built around efficiency,” Klatt said. “It’s built around being what I would consider a point guard out there, rather than, you know, the true quarterback. He’s a point guard. When I watched the film of Oklahoma, the ball was out of his hands so quickly. He’s making such quick decisions. And you saw that on the last drive even if he was throwing the ball down the field, even if he was having to scramble out of the pocket. As soon as he had a window, the ball was out.

“The last play, doesn’t freak out. He doesn’t panic, (pocket is) collapsing around him and he just throws the ball up to the corner of the end zone because he knew he had Nick Anderson right there for the touchdown.”

The poise for Gabriel was unreal in the moment. That’s the “Heisman moment” people talk about. Could that translate further? Even without a top playmaker?

“I am bummed for him that Andrel Anthony is going to be out, if you haven’t heard that news, the outside receiver, he’s banged up and he’s got a knee issue,” Klatt said. “But Gabriel I’ll tell you, man nearly 400 total yards against UT, the 75-yard drive with 1:17 left, that’s Heisman caliber stuff. 

“Love his quick decisions. A point guard out there, ball out of his hands and I love watching him play and he deserves to be on this list.”