Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables addressed the recent decision of former Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel to leave the program after the 2023 season. In his remarks on Tuesday, Venables stated, “You can’t make a guy stay. The guy is trying to find the next thing; the next chapter for him. I’m sure there was probably some disappointment that (Gabriel) wasn’t more highly thought of in the NFL. He had an amazing year. He was a fantastic quarterback. But we didn’t run anybody off or things like that.”
Gabriel played two seasons with Oklahoma, amassing 6,828 passing yards and 55 touchdowns. After leading the Sooners to a 10-2 record, he set his sights on the NFL but faced less favorable evaluations from scouts, prompting his decision to return to college for a sixth year. Following the regular-season finale, Gabriel informed Venables of his intention to enter the transfer portal and opt out of the Alamo Bowl after offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby departed. He also indicated a desire to play closer to his home in Hawaii.
“I did not know at that time that he wasn’t going to go to the NFL,” Venables remarked. “I didn’t even know I had to fight this fight.”
Gabriel subsequently transferred to Oregon to continue his collegiate career after starting at UCF in 2019. He has recorded 941 passing yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in three games on the West Coast.
In the wake of Gabriel’s departure, Jackson Arnold, the 2022-2023 Gatorade Player of the Year, was anticipated to step in as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. Arnold started in Gabriel’s absence during the Alamo Bowl but struggled early in the current season, committing three turnovers in a 25-15 loss to Tennessee. As a result, Venables has named freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. the starting quarterback for the upcoming game against Auburn. Hawkins completed 11 of 18 attempts for 132 yards and one touchdown in relief of Arnold last weekend.
Venables emphasized the importance of encouraging Arnold during this transition. “I expressed to Jackson that this is a moment,” he said. “Jackson’s going to have an amazing future and career. He’s going to play this game (for) a long time. All of that will work itself out in due time.”
