Dillon Gabriel says Oklahoma's potential is 'the fun part'

Oklahoma is looking to bounce back after a frustrating first season for head coach Brent Venables. A lot of the Sooners’ ability to do that is going to rely on quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who sees a ton of potential at Oklahoma.

Following the spring game, Gabriel was asked how he feels going forward.

“I feel really good. I think, obviously the spring in general, the growth we’ve made and the positive spring we had,” Dillon Gabriel said. “I think it’s a real positive for us because knowing where we’re at right now, how much better we can be going into fall camp and summer workouts, it’s a good place to be at.”

Gabriel explained that Oklahoma knows the work isn’t over and it’s actually fun to see just how good the team could be going forward.

“But, you know, the work’s not over and just knowing how good we can be is the fun part about it.”

Brent Venables has also said that he’s feeling good. In particular, he feels better about the quarterback situation in 2023.

“I mean that’ll certainly be into play, how much more willingness, we’ll still continue to evaluate but we do feel better about our quarterback situation obviously,” Venables admitted.

“And Dillon has shown as he did last year several times the ability to escape pressure, and make plays, improvise, but designed quarterback run will be something that we’ll carry into every game I would imagine”

Dillon Gabriel on where he’s grown as a quarterback

Following spring practice, Dillon Gabriel shared a key area where he feels he’s grown as a quarterback.

“Just movement in the pocket. Trusting that pocket but, also, in my drop not being too fast. I think, you know, as we worked on it and that being a point of emphasis, it really helped me in general of going through progressions and also seeing different coverages,” Gabriel said.

“Like I said, it starts there and it starts with me,” said Gabriel. “I think, with that approach, it really helped me.”

Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby emphasized how much better Gabriel has been from the pocket this year.

“Slowing him down in the pocket and being a little better protectionally and being able to get us in the right protection in certain situations. He’s taken unbelievable ownership in that, which has been great to see. There’s been great growth on the grass with him being able to take the meeting room to the field,” Lebby explained.

“So, proud of his growth. We had a very narrow vision of what it needed to look like through 15 practices. Very pointed, very direct, and he was able to accomplish a lot of what we were wanting to through 15 practices.”