Dillon Gabriel addresses the challenge of being the new guy with a team

Dillon Gabriel is a veteran in the college football world but is a newcomer with the Oregon football program. After spending three seasons at UCF and two at Oklahoma, Gabriel transferred to Oregon this offseason.

The 5-foot-11 quarterback spoke with Shea Dixon at the Manning Passing Academy on Friday about what it’s like joining a new team. Gabriel admitted that it’s a challenge.

“I think people navigate it in different ways. I’m the type to connect with one another as much as possible, be around the guys. I think that’s how you create real relationships, and that’s away from football,” Dillon Gabriel said. “I feel like if you have that relationship off the field, you can demand a lot on the field. It allows you to find your voice. I kind of have used that to my strength.

“I think the speaking up part is just being courageous to put yourself out there. You may fail a bunch, but I think it’s the respect factor of the effort and the ability to put yourself out there. It’s definitely difficult. I’ll say that. It’s not an easy task.”

Gabriel is entering his sixth season of college football. He has passed for more than 3,000 yards in all five of the seasons he was healthy, including throwing for 3,660 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions last year.

Oklahoma was 10-2 during the regular season with Gabriel in 2023, including a win over Texas, before he entered the transfer portal.

Expectations are high for Dillon Gabriel and Oregon in 2024, but he insists the key to being successful on the field is building friendships away from it.

“I think it teaches you a lot about how to grow up, how to be around different guys, whether it’s Florida, Midwest Oklahoma or West Coast, I think you learn a lot about different people and kind of that respect factor of we all come from different places, but we’re all here to achieve a common goal,” Gabriel said. “I’ve kind of had that approach of respecting people and getting them all together and letting the guards go down and be able to connect so that not only me demand a lot but demand a lot from one another.”

Oregon is coming off of a 12-2 season in 2023 with Bo Nix at quarterback. The Ducks lost some talented players, including Nix, but they also have plenty of playmakers returning on both sides of the ball.