Oregon football is exceeding the expectations. The 2024 college football season has been a crazy ride. We have teams going from a sky-high to a shattering low in just a couple of weeks. The uncertainty keeps the game intriguing for the fans, but at the same time, it gives them a difficult time trusting the instinct of the scoring trend. But one team remains the exception of all the flighty air. The one and only Oregon Ducks. Despite Dan Lanning’s humble ‘not so easy’ statement toward a potential national championship win, we all know that’s what they are here for. But Dillon Gabriel might not be the best man they have around behind an over-the-top season.

The player in the limelight, like always, is Dillon Gabriel. You may not like it, but you can’t unsee the gigantic presence of the kid inside the Ducks squad. But is he one of the greatest of all time Duck? Well, CBSSports’ Danny Kannel has an eye-opening answer. In a blind ranking of Oregon QBs, Kannel keeps Gabriel at No. 4. “Incredible career, but how can you put him in an all-time Duck when he’s only been there for one year?” said the analyst, taking a slight shot at the QB phenom’s lack of experience in the Oregon camp.

Who were the other QBs on the list? Well, it included Dennis Nixon, Justin Herbert, Dan Fouts and Marcus Mariota. Nixon got the 5th position, and Kannel put Herbert, the current quarterback of the LA Chargers, in the 3rd position while saying that he was underutilized at the Ducks.

Kannel gives the top prize to Marcus Mariota, the coveted Heisman winner, the one-of-a-kind legend of the program’s history. It’s obvious that the veteran has surpassed Gabriel in terms of years and eye-popping stats under his belt. Gabriel is reaching there slowly but surely. Mariota’s one massive miss is a national title. Gabriel keeps the hope alive, and a title can give him a boost in his quest to become the second Mariota of the Ducks or the first Dillon Gabriel, who knows!

There were a slew of similarities between the two: They both excelled as dual-threat quarterbacks who had racked up high-flying accolades along with yards and touchdowns. Both represent Hawaii and were highly influenced by the island spirit. Gabriel even wore the phenom jersey number as a sign of respect for the preceded.

Dillon Gabriel seems to be deeply inspired by the Oregon GOAT Marcus Mariota

Mariota scored a heck of numbers in the signature No. 8 jersey. But there is a story behind it. The veteran initially chose the number to relate it to the Hawaiian islands. His helmet’s facemask also arrayed 808, Hawaii’s area code.

Years later, Gabriel felt the same urge and took a random initiative to recreate it on the program. Out of nowhere, he dropped a text message to Mariota asking for his permission. Mariota said a wholehearted yes.

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You know when you’re growing up and you have that kind of direct example, a guy from Hawaii, playing at a high level, at the DI level, and then you see him go to the NFL, it’s like you can see it, you can believe it,” Gabriel expressed his overwhelming respect for the 31-year-old. It’s no surprise that Gabriel, deep down, wants to follow in his footsteps. The path is not farfetched for the kid, as he’s already turning the tide as a potential top NFL pick.

Gabriel became the all-time NCAA leader for total career touchdowns along the way and now has 183, including 149 via pass, 33 via rush, and one reception. He’s now on the same page with former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix — now with the Denver Broncos — with an FBS record of 61 career starts.

As far as the Heisman trophy is concerned,

Gabriel is in the run. Although he’s not the frontrunner like Hunter or Jeanty, there are reasons to put him in the ‘what if’ lists of the NYC ceremony, at least.