Jeff Lebby shares where Dillon Gabriel has had 'great growth'

Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and quarterback Dillon Gabriel have a strong relationship, going back to Gabriel’s freshman season at UCF. Now at Oklahoma, the two are trying to put together a memorable final season in the Big 12.

After the spring game, Lebby explained where he thinks Gabriel has had great growth.

“Through 15 practices we wanted to clean a couple things up fundamentally,” Jeff Lebby said. “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.”

Jeff Lebby emphasized that Dillon Gabriel got a lot done, given the constraints of spring practice.

“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”

Later, Dillon Gabriel also chimed in about where he feels he’s made the largest strides.

“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. I think, with that approach, it really helped me.”

Jeff Lebby praised Jackson Arnold

Along with praising Dillon Gabriel, Jeff Lebby also spoke highly about freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold.

“With the way he started, and the negative plays and kind of the situations he was put in when he was on the field, I love that he was able to battle back and do some really good things there at the end of the game, and put us in position, and make the play on the two-point conversion to go win it for the red team,” Lebby said. “So was just proud of him for sticking with it.”

Arnold even impressed Gabriel during Oklahoma’s spring game.

“I think every freshman in general, but Jackson of course, just learning the lay of the land and you know, what to expect in practice, what to expect day-to-day, week-to-week, whatever it is, scrimmage,” explained Gabriel.

“I think he’s just — obviously every freshman has a better grasp on what college is all about, so yeah. The progression, everything, the improvement for him, the sky’s the limit.”