The annual Senior Bowl is set for this weekend, and Hawaii’s Dillon Gabriel will look to elevate his NFL Draft stock after an impressive six-year collegiate career.
Gabriel, a former Heisman Trophy finalist, cemented his legacy as the NCAA’s all-time leader in total touchdowns, leading Oregon to the College Football Playoff semifinals in his lone season with the Ducks. He completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,857 yards, throwing 30 touchdowns against just six interceptions, while also rushing for 149 yards and seven scores.
Over the first few days of practices, Gabriel has already turned heads having been clocked with an event record ball speed of 74.9 mph, which shattered the previous top-mark of 62 mph set by current NFL quarterbacks Josh Allen and Joe Milton III.
For the Mililani High School graduate, off the field, the draft process’s interview aspect comes naturally.
“It’s been really great conversation and something I’m extremely confident and comfortable with—whether it’s talking ball, going on the whiteboard, talking to certain players, or just answering questions about who I am,” Gabriel said in an NFL Network interview. “I know what I represent. Every single day, with the lights on or off, I’m the same person. It’s most important to be your authentic self because you don’t want to misalign yourself. As players, we don’t get to pick—the coaches do this time—so I want to make sure there’s a great fit for both sides.”
Gabriel, who played collegiately at Oregon, Oklahoma, and UCF, will honor all three programs by wearing their decals on his helmet during the all-star game.
The Senior Bowl, which will also feature Saint Louis alum Jonah Savaiinaea of Arizona, kicks off Saturday at 9:30 a.m. HST and will be televised on NFL Network.