Dan Lanning lists Dillon Gabriel's self awareness as factor that sets him apart

Former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix became college football’s record holder for career starts with 61 last season following his final game with the Ducks. A mark that new Oregon signal caller Dillon Gabriel could potentially break this upcoming season as he joins the program with 49 starts under his belt.

Like Nix, Gabriel transferred to Oregon to close out his college career. But his new head coach Dan Lanning recently revealed what makes Gabriel different special compared to past quarterbacks that he’s been around.

“I think Dillon just has a great self awareness,” Lanning said at Oregon Football Media Day. “I’ve talked a lot about his leadership the last week at Big Ten Meetings and I think that maybe that doesn’t give enough credit to the player he is.”

The best quarterbacks have a combination of high-level skills both on and off the field, and on the field entering this college football season, it’ll be hard to find a quarterback who has accomplished more than Gabriel. Who has 14,865 career passing yards and 125 touchdowns under his belt between his time at UCF and Oklahoma.

“He has an opportunity to really break some doors open here with starts, with the amount of yards that he’s thrown for. But I also know that’s not what motivates him. He’s done a great job of picking up our install,” Lanning explained.

Along with learning Oregon’s offense, Gabriel has also taken it upon himself to contribute to the Ducks’ potent scheme as well. As he looks to lead a high powered unit to championship heights in the final chapter of his lengthy college career.

“I think he’s brought some ideas to us too as well that he does really well and that’s our job as coaches now. To figure out his strengths as we lean into that and these next four weeks, we’ll certainly be critical in that but his approach every day. The way he works, looking for him to step up as a vocal leader as the season continues, but what he does on the field is really impressive,” Lanning concluded.

Fall camp starts on Wednesday for the Ducks, where Gabriel will further solidify solidify his connection with his playmakers and his command of the offense. Tasked with helping usher Oregon into a new era as they join the Big Ten this upcoming college football season where he’ll potential make some history in the process.