INDIANAPOLIS — Dillon Gabriel, speaking at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on Thursday, said thought he would jump to the NFL after last season, but when Oregon offered him a chance to stay in school and play in a fast, high-scoring offense that could improve his draft stock, he changed his mind.
Gabriel heads into this season as potentially the conference's best quarterback and perhaps the league's top Heisman Trophy contender.
Gabriel completed 69.3% of his passes for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, throwing only six interceptions in his second season at Oklahoma. He also had 12 TD runs.
Now, he seems content to be the next in a long line of strong Oregon quarterbacks.
"I think I'm right where I need to be," he said.
"When I made the decision to leave, coach (Dan) Lanning called and coach (Will) Stein called, and there was an immediate alignment with one another," Gabriel said. "The offensive fit, the returning pieces and also the pieces coming in, it wasn't a matter of if — it was just how we're going to get it done."
Gabriel will wear the same No. 8 jersey as another quarterback from Hawaii who played for the Ducks, 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
"I just loved how he played it, what he represents on and off the field," Gabriel said. "I think that's a guy anyone would want to get behind. Just the type of person he is, how he represents Hawaii, as a young Hawaii athlete watching him go do his thing, it's special."
Fond memory
Oregon coach Dan Lanning made a sentimental return to Lucas Oil Stadium, the site of this week's Big Ten Media Days, where as a Georgia assistant, he celebrated the Bulldogs winning the first of their back-to-back national championships over Alabama three seasons ago.
"It's certainly great to be back here in Indianapolis," Lanning said. "The last time I was in this stadium, I got to enjoy a national championship with some of my former players at Georgia. It's refreshing to be here 2 1/2 years from that moment.”"
Lanning is hopeful he will be back at this venue on Dec. 7 for the Big Ten championship game. The Ducks are playing their first season in the Big Ten this year, and he appreciated being welcomed by the floating Ducks mascot that appeared Tuesday in Indy's White River.
