Former OU, UCF quarterback Dillion Gabriel announces transfer to Oregon for 6th season

FILE - Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) scrambles during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kansas, Oct. 28, 2023 in Lawrence, Kan. Gabriel was selected to the The Associated Press Big 12 first team. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley, File)

By The Associated Press

(AP) — Former Oklahoma and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel announced on Saturday that he is transferring to Oregon for a sixth season of college football.

Gabriel, who is from Hawaii, posted on social media “Marcus Approved” in reference to former Oregon Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who was also born in Hawaii.

Gabriel wears jersey No. 8 in honor of Mariota. Oregon opens its 2024 season on the road against Hawaii.

Gabriel lines up as Oregon’s replacement for Bo Nix, a Heisman finalist who spent the last two seasons with the Ducks after starting his career with Auburn. The Ducks are transitioning from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten next season.

Gabriel is the most experienced and productive quarterback available in the portal for next season, with 14,865 career yards passing. He is 4,352 yards behind former Houston quarterback Case Keenum’s major college football record of 19,217 and 2,207 behind Timmy Chang in second place with 17,072.

Gabriel threw for 6,828 yards and 55 touchdowns and ran for 18 scores the last two seasons with Oklahoma. He played his first three seasons at UCF, passing for 70 touchdowns. He has already started 50 games in his college career.

Other high-profile quarterbacks in the portal who are still uncommitted include Cameron Ward from Washington State; Kye McCord from Ohio State; Riley Leonard from Duke; Will Howard from Kansas State; Tyler Van Dyke from Miami; and Dante Moore from UCLA.