Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel's Top Landing Spots After Entering Transfer Portal
Dillon Gabriel is moving on to his third school with the soon-to-be sixth-year senior announcing Monday he's entering the transfer portal.
Gabriel becomes one of the best options on the board for Power Five coaches in desperate need of short-term help under center.
The southpaw threw for 8,037 yards, 70 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in three years at UCF, and he subsequently showed he can thrive at a major P5 program as well. During his time in Norman, he completed 66 percent of his passes with a 163.4 QB rating. He threw for 6,828 yards and 55 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Even with the limited time left in his college career, Gabriel should have no shortage of options on the table. Here three schools that make sense for his 2024 swan song.
LSU Tigers
LSU is due to lose potential Heisman Trophy winner and 2024 first-round pick Jayden Daniels this offseason, and there isn't a clear candidate succeed him at quarterback.
Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 1,325 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions through his three years in Baton Rouge. Walker Howard, one of the top players from the team's 2022 class, already transferred out to Ole Miss. Rickie Collins, a 4-star recruit in 2023, only saw action as a true freshman in a one-sided victory over Grambling.
Playing in the SEC carries exacting standards, and the conference will only get more difficult in 2024 with Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference.
Whether it's with Gabriel or somebody else, the transfer portal looks like head coach Brian Kelly's best path to replacing Daniels.
Texas A&M Aggies
Spotty quarterback play was among the many reasons the Jimbo Fisher era fell well short of expectations. Addressing that issue will be among Mike Elko's top priorities.
Coaches are always at a bit of a disadvantage when they take a new job because they have little time to assemble a recruiting class ahead of their first year. For Elko, the ship has probably sailed on flipping one of 2024's top passers.
Luckily the portal gives he and his staff a straightforward alternative.
Considering Riley Leonard was linked with Notre Dame almost immediately after he announced his intention to transfer from Duke, a reunion with Elko is probably off the table. The Aggies will have plenty of other options, and adding Gabriel would be a major boost to the offense.
Wisconsin Badgers
Winning seven games and reaching the ReliaQuest Bowl isn't a terrible outcome for Luke Fickell in his first season at Wisconsin. At the same time, you can't blame Badgers fans feeling a little underwhelmed by how the year unfolded.
Tanner Mordecai's prolific numbers at SMU (7,152 yards and 72 touchdowns in two seasons) simply didn't translate before a broken hand disrupted his campaign.
Gabriel would be a clear upgrade at quarterback, and his arrival would signal Fickell's continued desire to reshape the Badgers' offensive identity and embrace a more pass-happy attack.