Why Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is a Heisman favorite before the college football season has even started

Oregon had one of the best quarterbacks in the nation the past two years in Bo Nix, but now it’ll be Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel as QB1 after Nix was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Oregon has championship aspirations entering their first year in the Big Ten and whether they make the playoffs greatly hinges on the production of Gabriel, someone who ranks among the all-time leaders in college football.

Gabriel is currently tied for fourth in NCAA history in career total touchdowns (152), seventh in total yards (15,925), eighth in passing yards (14,865) and eighth in passing touchdowns (125). Gabriel has 49 career starts and is only 12 behind the NCAA quarterback record of 61 set by Bo Nix.

Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Gabriel currently has the best odds of winning the Heisman Trophy (+750) and Oregon is tied with Texas with the third-best odds of winning the National Championship (+800). Gabriel said at Big Ten Media Day that he’s aware of the hype surrounding the Oregon program, but he also realizes it won’t serve him well to bask in preseason praise.

“Hype is cheap, talk is cheap,” Gabriel said on Thursday. “Everything that everyone is talking about preseason is extremely cool and exciting and I acknowledge that — but for the most part, it’s what have you done for me lately? I’m focused on the now, on the moment. To be the best version of myself for these guys in Eugene right now.”

Gabriel will wear No. 8, the same number as former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who won the Heisman in 2014. Gabriel texted Mariota for his blessing to wear the number, and Mariota said “absolutely.”

“I wear it with great honor and privilege. It’s always a reminder that I always represent more than just myself. And ten years later, another quarterback from Hawaii, is repping the No. 8. It’s a huge reminder of what I represent — the University of Oregon and Marcus Mariota.”

Lanning said that Gabriel has a “passion for the game and a passion to be great.” It’s not just what Gabriel’s doing on the field that’s impressing his head coach, he’s also become a leader in a short amount of time and built countless connections in the process.

“What’s impressed me the most about Dillon is his ability to connect, not just in our program, but outside of our program, whether taking an offensive retreat and taking our players to different parts of Oregon to throw the ball around in fellowship, or having the managers over to his house to watch a fight or a meal,” Lanning explained. “He’s really done a great job of connecting quickly.”

Gabriel, who’s 5-foot-11, and 204 pounds, is entering his sixth year of college ball and will turn 24 years old in December. Gabriel’s height and age both currently are putting a damper on his draft stock. However, a championship run could change his draft stock exponentially. After all, Bo Nix was also 24 entering the draft this year and was selected No. 12 overall by the Broncos.

If Gabriel has a season where he remains in Heisman contention and is among the nation’s best in multiple categories, it would be fair to start calling Oregon a quarterback factory under Dan Lanning.