Dillon Gabriel brings valuable experience to Oregon as starting quarterback | NBC Sports

Oregon Ducks what in your thought process in your selection process what made you choose Oregon yeah choosing Oregon was a very easy decision uh you know I I kind of had three components I was really looking for a chance to compete for a national championship offensive fit um and then just surrounding pieces and I think all three were were very clear of uh kind of the great fit that you know it all aligned together you know speaking with Coach Lanning coach Stein uh it was just very clear to everyone uh that's where I needed to be um and it didn't take long you know I remember you know on that Sunday meeting with Coach Lanning uh it was conversations of how we're going to do it what's what's the Move versus you know any convincing uh and I think that's just the connection and the alignment that we had with one another um and just the realness of conversation you know being in my sixth year of this I I can kind of tell what's what's real what's not um and it was just very easy to tell with with them you mentioned coach Lanning and meeting with him what what stands out to you about him or what do you think is about him that makes him special yeah I think you know him being young and age definitely allows him to be more in tune with this you know generation and um kind of where things are headed towards um but also his respect for players um his ability to push players uh is something that he's found a great balance of of um and I appreciate that um you know he he'll love you up but he'll also push you uh to your limits and uh try to make you the best version of yourself so uh that's nothing you know you would ever want you know from a coach like him he's he's everything you you want and and I'm very appreciative of that um and just within my seven months you know everything that he said um he's kept his word um and it's something that you know like I said is is different yeah you've obviously had a a a great career successful career at three different now your third School UCF Oklahoma uh Player of the Year in a conference last year um a lot of games under your belt right game experience what do you feel like are the best strengths or the biggest things that you bring to the table now in this year for the Oregon offense yeah I know my strengths uh I know what I'm good at I I know where I have to continue to improve and focus on um I also know that experience you know plan in a bunch of different atmospheres um B bunch of different environments um and a bunch of big games uh I think that allows me to be more comfortable within the moment um and then also uh just my leadership you know I truly believe that you know as you get older and have this experience uh you begin to be more comfortable with yourself uh but also uh find that that voice um of a leader you know a leader by example is just a good follower and and someone who's able to influence others uh be vocal as a great leader um and be that voice when things aren't going right and you know I've I've been in a a bunch of different situations and circumstances uh throughout a game time but also throughout a season um and I just believe that you know with our alignment here and my leadership skills um aligning with other guys on the team um we we got a good group of guys that uh want to be great and push one another so uh I think that aligns um and and of course the offensive fit you I think that gives confidence for a quarterback uh knowing where the answers are um and just being confident in it so yeah I think you know with all that to be said you know Oregon's getting the best version of myself um I told that to the boys um we had a great off season and and you know leading the fall Camp that's where we separated yeah so you mentioned you know who you are what you do well what your strengths what you need to keep working on what what are some of the things you feel like you need to keep working on or you want to take another step in your own development yeah winning is a habit you know and I've emphasized that this offseason you know continue to win every single rep of whatever it may be continue to compete you know I think I've always had that competitive nature um but competitive stamina uh continue to have that that mindset every day um throughout the the months of of the offseason uh the summer leading into fall Camp um but also uh just continue to be really good at um you know taking what they give you creating completions um I think you know completion percentage uh honestly only shows you know how good you are with the football and how trustworthy you are um so finding the ways to continue to create completions um and then also scoring in the Red Zone being really good on third Downs you know that's something that off forever and continue to work on um and has been a focal point um you know for me have you been able to obviously you've got the same coordinator in will Stein another young guy that's relatable guy um were you able to learn a lot from watching what he was able to do with Bo Nicks last year a guy who's you know in a very similar situation from you played a lot of ball at a different School came in here and just had a lights out kind of season last year yeah I think you know when initially looking at Oregon uh you see what the offense can look like when there's a quarterback on his PS and q's and uh just producing at a high level um I think that's super attractive as a player to play an offense like that um but most importantly you know watching the installs and him being in it you see a quarterback that like I said is competing at a high level um producing at a high level uh it's very easy to watch um you don't question decisions or anything like that it's more like uh you know why did he get there to to Wi certain reads and um you know seeing the certain checks you know within a a drive uh I think you just learn a lot you know from that kind of experience so uh I think it's it's super cool you know having coach Stein uh he's you know very in tune with the offense he's been a great teacher for me and learning it um but just speaking the same language you know over the course of seven months you know early on I'm like you know it was an adjustment but um you know going into that May June and July I think that's where really slowed down change for me to where you know I'm I'm not thinking about you know the words necessarily the language now I can just uh you know create and and execute at a high level so obviously this you know you had number of reasons why Oregon was the right fit the right place for you but one of the cool things that kind of went with that is you have a kind of a unique relationship with Marcus Mariota who was the last Heisman Trophy winning quarterback here at Oregon and great Pro uh talk a little bit about your relationship with him and just the connection and how important that is to you yeah uh whether Marcus knows it or not you know the the connection with him goes way back for me in terms of watching him play um in high school you know him getting his shot you know in the spring game in college and then him ultimately playing at Oregon um you know it's a guy I've watched um admired just the way he handles himself on and off the field you know he represents himself in in the right way his university his family um I think it's it's someone that you want to model yourself after um and I'm grateful that we had a a great you know leader but also you know face of Hawaii that kind of led the path for not only Hawaii you know football players but quarterbacks and uh more specifically and um you know just being able to see that I think he kind of paved the way and and how we should do this thing um but also being true and authentic to who we are and uh it's special you know I I don't you know take it lightly that I get to wear the number eight you know I see it as a honor and privilege um but also a lot of fun you know like who wouldn't want to wear that you know after the guy you look up to and then to second that you know me finally being at Oregon where he was uh 10 years later um it's special you know it's I I know it's it's by God's design and I'm right where I need to be um and I'm blessed to to be where I'm at yeah um so on that topic you're going to be one of the preseason people that talking about at the Heisman you're wearing number eight right your team is being talked about as one of the contenders for the national champion not just the Big 10 Championship um do you like that kind of pressure going into the start of this season yeah I just I think hype is cheap talk is cheap you know I think preseason rankings are probably the most uh they're you know bogus but exciting for fans and you know to build the excitement so I acknowledge that but I think on a competitive level um I've never let that fuel me you know I've been at the top I've been at the bottom of rankings um and I've been everywhere in between but for the most part um you know at the end of the day I think you know that you know what what have you done for me lately is is really the you know daily product of of what you produce is is the key you know that all solve everything and that's why I'm so you know focused on the moment and the and the now uh because that would all take care of itself you came from the Big 12 um which was a competitive league um now you're in the Big 10 and and it expanded Big 10 with four new teams you're part of one of those new teams but just your broad stroke impression or idea of what competition will be like in the Big 10 yeah extremely competitive you know when I was you know coming to Oregon and was making that decision I also knew the Big 10 was involved um that's where you know Oregon was headed and it's like I said it's something that you want to be a part of you know you want to play in the biggest moments biggest ATM atmospheres environments uh it's something that as a competitor you dream of um and you look for those Big Time games you know week in week out uh it's it's what football's all about let alone it's college football you know the the most exciting time uh for a lot of players so I I'm grateful for it you know I'm excited I know Big 10 football's you know downhill uh a lot of great defense running the football um and competitive uh conference so we're looking forward to it we're excited you know we're confident confident going into it but also know we got our work cut out for us so um you know having a great fall Camp would be super important yeah the expanded playoff system um your feelings about that and does that make it easier to have a path to a potential National Championship I wouldn't say easier um I would just say more opportunities and better matchups and and I do believe that you know the more the marrier you know I think you've seen the success and you know other sports in tournaments you know whether it's March Madness or you know baseball and softball do it uh you know with their kind of brackets um but I I just I'm a big believer in in playing the best matchup best teams you know play ball in December January you know and um you know being having having that having more opportunities I think you'll have less you know people sitting out um I think you'll have more exciting games um and season will be longer so everyone will be excited for that and um of course seasons will be longer but um I think you know coaches and uh conferences understand that to you know help on the athlete side yeah when you're not playing football or training for football or you know doing those kind of things what what are some things that that you like to do away from football yeah I think football life is pretty hectic and on the go so I do like to relax and kind of slow life down a little bit um whether that's just being on walks with my dog Winston hanging out with my girlfriend kind of dog miniature shanower okay so he's he's my he's my best friend he's a great listener uh so he lists to all my stories my venting sessions um but he's just you know no matter a good day or a bad day you come home and he's got a bunch of Love um so he he definitely changes my perspective on that uh my girlfriend zo uh just she's always supported me and um you know I think the the time together and the experience we've had uh on this journey uh it's it's rewarding and a lot of fun to to be together on this journey together uh it's it's uh it's the best feeling you know having that support um so when I get home and just being able to spend time with them whether it's turning on a movie uh cooking dinner even though I'm hardly cooking uh you know cutting up or you know trying to help in in other ways uh I think that's just a fun times you know being able to eat dinner together while win's in my lap um and just having good conversation I look forward to that kind of stuff so uh that's kind of my you know relaxing side of things how long have you and zo been together we so we met uh in seventh grade oh wow sixth grade orientation you know had a our little Middle School dating uh but met her in the garden uh it's a little quick story she was doing the green beans planning I was planning some pumpkin seeds but didn't go for the pumpkin seeds acted like I was in the green bean team so I was able to you know spit some game there and then hopefully she fell in love right at that moment but it it was it's cool you know I've known her for a bunch of times she knows me and um like I said she's just been on this journey and um loves me through everything but uh yeah she's she's my rock couple couple other little things just you've been there seven months so what's the coolest or your favorite secret thing maybe you've learned about University of Oregon or Eugene that you didn't know I would say I mean people probably knew this but I guess it uh exceeded all expectations you know just the outdoors um you know being able to go on walks um I live right by a but so I'm able to go you know hike up the hill or but they call it um and you know just do a bunch of Outdoors you know I got the river the will Amit river river right uh by my house as well so crossing over that bridge just a lot of Scenic Beauty um that you're able to see and the greenery um it's it's been beautiful uh to be able to just experience that um and like I said with the you know hectic hectic High Pace uh lifestyle in football it's good to be able to dial back and relax and have you know that in your backyard yeah last thing and and you know obviously this is important to all young people you know the whole drip effect is is important right uh but I mean the uniforms and the the the gear and all that stuff that comes with being an Oregon Duck I mean that's pretty cool isn't it it is it's it's special and I think that's the history right being different in that way and The Cutting Edge of uniforms facilities uh the whole nine um and then being in Nike's backyard uh you know they definitely show a lot of love to us but um we're grateful for it and I think you know you go in that equipment room you look in it I mean it's like a whole Mall you know know of the stuff that you could get um and you know the stuff that they give us so uh we're very blessed uh we don't take that lightly and you know Nike's love for us but also just Oregon and that relationship uh it's real and it's special