Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel have had strikingly similar careers. Both just completed their fifth season in college. Both have thrown for just under 15,000 yards in their five collegiate seasons while only throwing 26 interceptions a piece. Now heading into 2024, Bo heads for the NFL while Dillon will be taking his place as QB1 for the Oregon Ducks.
When Nix announced his commitment to the Ducks after the 2021 season, it was met with lots of skepticism. After an electric freshman season that included an opening night comeback over his future team and an Iron Bowl victory, Bo struggled to be consistent in his final two years with Auburn. In 2022, his first season with Oregon, everything changed.
Following a 49-3 opening week loss to Georgia, Bo played lights out football for his entire Oregon Ducks career. This past season, Nix threw for 4,145 yards, 40 touchdowns, just three interceptions, and an unbelievable 77.2 completion percentage which is just .2 shy of the single season record, good for an appearance in NYC as a Heisman Trophy finalist. However, the Ducks could not get over the hump of their rival the Washington Huskies and missed the playoffs.
Now, heading into 2024, history repeats itself. Dillon Gabriel, a Hawaii native who idolized Marcus Mariota growing up is set to be the starting quarterback of his hero’s alma mater. Gabriel has shown impressive grit throughout his career, battling multiple injuries and still being incredibly productive, first with UCF, followed by the last two seasons with the Sooners.
Like Nix, Dillon Gabriel does an outstanding job protecting the ball, as showcased by his 26 career interceptions. On top of that, Gabriel provides a running style similar to Mariota along with a willingness to take hits that not all quarterbacks possess. In his two seasons at OU, Gabriel rushed for a combined 688 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns including 12 in 2023.
As the Oregon Ducks prepare to head to the BIG10, they are still looking to get over the hump. Despite two ten-win seasons to start Dan Lanning’s tenure as head man, Oregon has not appeared in a playoff game since the inaugural season in 2014 when Mariota and the Ducks fell to Ohio State in the national championship.
Dillon Gabriel heads to Eugene intent on changing the narrative around the Oregon Ducks. A team that was one win away from a playoff berth this past season heads into a 2024 season with an expanded playoffs with national championship hopes. If Gabriel can find a way to lead the Ducks to the promised land, his one year at Oregon will cement his legacy forever.
