Brent Venables addresses Dillon Gabriel departure: 'Nobody running nobody off'
OU coach Brent Venables cleared the air Tuesday regarding Dillon Gabriel’s departure from Oklahoma.
Gabriel has become a talking point this week among local media after the fallout of the Tennessee game in which sophomore Jackson Arnold was benched for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. The narrative has since changed to why did OU push Gabriel out? A sixth-year senior, Gabriel’s experience could help the Sooners this season.
But Venables wanted to set the story straight about what actually happened with Gabriel and why he left Norman for Oregon last year.
“At the end of the year, had a meeting after a few weeks at the end of the season, where Dillon Gabriel came to visit with me,” Venables said unprompted at his Tuesday press conference. “He wanted to have a meeting and let me know that he wasn’t going to play in the bowl game. And so I had already gotten wind and he knew some other guys were opting out on the offensive line and things like that. And I did not know that at that time that he wasn’t going to go to the NFL.
“When we had a great conversation with him, disappointed that he wasn’t going to go play in the bowl game. And the circumstances of coach Lebby leaving. And thought he wanted to get closer to home to Hawaii. I was like, I didn’t know I had to fight this fight. I didn’t realize that you were even considering coming back, and he says, ‘Yeah, but I just really want to, you know, get closer to home.’ We hugged and shook hands. He was a little emotional, and I was, but it was all really good and positive.”
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When Gabriel transferred to Oregon, many assumed that was OU choosing a young talent in Arnold — a five-star prospect — over the seasoned vet. But in reality, Gabriel was always going to Oklahoma after the 2023 season.
Once offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby left for Mississippi State, Gabriel was never returning to Norman. And getting closer to home was a priority, according to Venables.
“Make a guy stay, you know guys trying to find the next thing, the next chapter for him,” Venables said. “I’m sure there was probably some disappointment, you know, that he wasn’t more highly thought of in the NFL. Had an amazing year. He’s a fantastic quarterback. But nobody running, nobody off or things like that. So always the veterans are good. You know, I think always said that the experienced player can do a little more than sometimes the young guys. But it’s neither here nor there. But I did want to clear that up.”
