UCLA lands top transfer quarterback commitment

UCLA just made a huge splash in the transfer portal.

Dillon Gabriel, who entered the transfer portal last month, announced Thursday he’s headed to Los Angeles to play for Chip Kelly. The former UCF Knight appeared in just three games this season before putting his name in the portal.

WESTWOOD! LETS RIDE! #4sup pic.twitter.com/jyf09yEZOb

— Dillon Gabriel (@_dillongabriel_) December 16, 2021

During his first two years at UCF from 2019-20, Gabriel threw for 7,223 yards and 61 touchdowns while completing 59.7% of his passes during that span. Prior to his injury this season, he went 70 for 102 for 818 yards and nine touchdowns in three games.

He’s a former three-star recruit and was the No. 7 recruit out of Hawaii from the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Gabriel adds some much-needed depth to the Bruins quarterback room. Quarterbacks Kajiya Hollawayne and Parker McQuarrie entered the transfer portal this month, meaning Kelly had go get Dorian Thompson-Robinson some help.

Thompson-Robinson had quite a year this season, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,409 yards while throwing 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 609 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

UCLA went 8-4 this season, including 6-3 in Pac-12 play. The Bruins are gearing up for the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 where they’ll take on North Carolina State.

UCLA Bruins quarterback enters the NCAA Transfer Portal

UCLA Bruins freshman quarterback Kajiya Hollawayne is entering the NCAA transfer portal after one season, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Hollawayne, 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, did not get a snap for UCLA in his first year.

The San Jacinto, California, native was a three-star prospect coming out of high school. He committed to Chip Kelly in the summer before his senior season over nine other D-I offers.

Hollawayne now joins former teammate Parker McQuarrie in the portal. The redshirt freshman put his name in one week ago. McQuarrie, a former four-star recruit, did not record any statistics in his two years with UCLA’s program.

In his original recruitment, McQuarrie chose UCLA over Michigan, Miami, Wisconsin, and Purdue among others.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson got the majority of the time at quarterback this season for UCLA. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,409 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. Thompson-Robinson also added 609 yards rushing with nine scores on the ground.

UCLA had an impressive season, finishing second in the Pac-12 South after an 8-4 overall record.