Saturday night marks the start of Dillon Gabriel's sixth season of college football with his third different school.
The quarterback began his career as a starter at the University of Central Florida, where he played for three years before heading to Norman to play for the Oklahoma Sooners.
In December, with one year of eligibility remaining, Gabriel decided to head to the Pacific Northwest to play for the Oregon Ducks.
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Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during the Oregon Ducks' spring training game on April 27, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA Today Network.)
Gabriel passed for more than 3,000 yards in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and went 10-2 in his dozen starts with the Sooners.
He's moving from the Big 12 (Oklahoma is now in the SEC) to the Big Ten (Oregon was in the Pac-12 last year) and is excited about the change.
“It's my third conference that I've played in, so I think in that aspect it's great. I've played in a lot of different places and I feel like that's what makes football. I've had the privilege of playing in a lot of different environments and it's been very exciting. The more the merrier. It's going to be a lot of fun,” Gabriel told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
Gabriel said Oregon was “the perfect place” for him when he decided he wanted to take advantage of his extra year of eligibility.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel speaks to the media during Big 10 football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Robert Goddin/USA Today Sports)
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“I was in the right place at the right time… I think college is very special and I think it's a crucial time to be the player you want to be and prepare for the most important job interview of your life, which is the NFL,” he said.
“I think if you ask someone if they can take a test or a job interview, they try to get as much knowledge and experience as they can before they get that job interview. That's how I saw it.
“I also want to win a national championship. I want to win at the highest level. So the competitor in me wanted to do it as well. It was a big decision, but when you look at it from a player's point of view, that's how I made my decision.”
Gabriel certainly had moments where he felt “uncomfortable” during camp, but that’s the beauty of the journey.
“It's a lot of learning. I think a lot of people, when they change teams, go to coaches they know, so they know what to expect. But this time it was definitely a decision I made to try something new, get uncomfortable and grow,” Gabriel said.
“I think this offseason I've appreciated that I'm learning about a new offense, with new coaches that I haven't been around, but an uncomfortable situation breeds growth. I've learned a lot about myself and the game of football from different perspectives. It's my sixth year in college. I'm not stagnant, I'm consistent. It's something new and I'm constantly learning, growing and improving.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel walks onto the field during practice with the Ducks on Aug. 13, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA Today Network)
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“I see it as a very positive thing because I see guys who have been at a school for six years. They get stuck in their ways or they don't change or evolve. I don't see it as a negative thing, but a lot of positives from this offseason.”
The Ducks begin their Big Ten and Dillon Gabriel eras against Idaho at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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