Dillon Gabriel not brief on confidence, savors probability to indicate he belongs in NFL

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

INDIANAPOLIS – At 5-foot-11 and 202 kilos, Dillon Gabriel won’t appear like a franchise quarterback. However after setting the NCAA report for complete touchdowns and throwing for the second-most passing yards in Division I historical past, he is assured that he could be profitable on the subsequent stage.

“I problem everybody to only watch the tape,” Gabriel stated on the NFL Mix. “And you may see the evolution from 2019 to now, the expansion I’ve made not solely bodily, however mentally. Even with my throwing movement, you will see how polished and the way detailed it has been.

“That will not change. I am desperate to proceed to study and develop. However I am assured in my tape.”

Final season, Russell Wilson, Bryce Younger and Kyler Murray had been the one beginning quarterbacks within the NFL below 6-feet tall. Different QBs on the shorter facet who’ve had success within the league embrace Drew Brees, Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy.

However smaller QBs all the time need to show themselves. That is why, not like the highest quarterbacks on this yr’s draft like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, Gabriel will take part within the QB drills on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Gabriel stated his depth of expertise enjoying quarterback is a separator. He is been a beginning quarterback since his freshman yr at Mililani Excessive Faculty in Hawaii. He then began 63 video games in six years in school, with stints at Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon.

The 24-year-old Heisman Trophy finalist highlights his management expertise, his willingness to study and his successful methods as traits that work in his favor. Gabriel went 46-17 as a school starter.

“I feel I’ve discovered as I’ve gotten older that I have been constructed for the place,” Gabriel stated. “Rising up I’ve performed it, so it is one thing I do know very properly. I am a winner. I’ve gained in any respect three spots, have carried out it in large video games and every little thing in between.

“After which I am a learner. I do know I will not know every little thing going into the door within the NFL. I’ve acquired a bunch of data, however there’s nonetheless a bunch for me to study. I am desperate to study and know there’s lots of room for development.”

In his ultimate school season, Gabriel led the Geese to a 13-1 report, finishing 73% of his passes for 3,857 yards, with 30 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

“[He’s] a baller,” Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden stated about Gabriel. “The most effective quarterbacks I’ve performed with. He comes into the locker room, and all people simply floats to him. He connects with all people. Like I stated, a baller. Any individual who’s going to make it occur each time he can.”

Gabriel has been in comparison with fellow left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, one other Hawaii native. Together with Tagovailoa, Gabriel stated he studied left-handed throwers like Kellen Moore and Michael Vick rising up. At the moment, there are two left-handed beginning quarterbacks within the NFL: Tagovailoa and the Falcons‘ Michael Penix Jr.

“There’s only a few of us, which is cool,” Gabriel stated. “It makes us totally different. However I feel greater than that, there’s totally different enjoying types. [Tagovailoa is] a terrific particular person to be in comparison with. After all, he is a man I watched rising up and has had a bunch of success.”

Holden stated despite the fact that Dillon is a lefty, he throws a catchable ball.

“When the ball is within the air, it spins a special means; as an alternative of coming in direction of you, it goes the alternative means,” Holden stated. “We had the Monarc [robotic QB] machine. … We flipped that machine and made it left-handed. Simply catching on that helped loads. Dillon throws a terrific ball. It is not too totally different, however that is in all probability the one factor, the best way it is within the air.”

Gabriel is projected as a Day 2 or Day 3 choose. He stated he is had interviews with the Raiders and Dolphins on the mix this week. By way of the precise staff match, he stated he is on the lookout for nice alignment with gamers, coaches and possession.

“If a staff desires a winner, a franchise chief, then they know who to name,” Gabriel stated.

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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