“Drives a Minivan”: As Oregon Moves Past Bo Nix Era, Dan Lanning Elevates ‘Humble’ $1.4M QB Dillon Gabriel to Spotlight

Dillon Gabriel is no stranger to praise. His former Oklahoma Sooners coach lauded his humility, saying, “You don’t see him ever tooting his own horn.” Now, Gabriel brings his talent to the Oregon Ducks under new coach Dan Lanning. Though teams and coaches have changed, the admiration for Gabriel remains the same.

After Bo Nix entered the NFL and landed with the Denver Broncos, Oregon needed a new quarterback. Last year, coach Lanning immediately sought a replacement and found it when Gabriel left the Sooners. Now, Gabriel knows he’s following a beloved star like Bo Nix at Oregon. Yet, his talent and humble attitude leave no room for ego. Even coach Lanning spoke about the $1.4M star’s down-to-earth nature while highlighting his “minivan.”

Dan Lanning backs his humble quarterback, who drives a minivan

When recruiting players from the transfer portal, Coach Dan Lanning has kept the Oregon Ducks as a top 10 team in the nation. He’s particularly excited about his new quarterback recruit, Dillon Gabriel. While speaking about the recruits, Lanning praised Gabriel’s humility, saying, “Dillon’s extremely humble for a guy that’s had a lot of success.” 

He even shared an anecdote: “I’ve told this story, and I actually heard him say it the other day, but he drives a minivan around because he can pick up the wideouts and take them to throw. That’s kind of the guy he is. He’s a really humble guy, but he also has confidence when he steps on the field.” Lanning continued his praise, highlighting Gabriel’s “intelligence” and “decision-making” skills, comparing him favorably to the previous QB, Bo Nix. Despite his success and $1.4 million valuation, Gabriel appears to be grounded in college sports, choosing to learn by staying at Bo Nix’s place.

Dillon Gabriel prioritizes college success to boost NIL

Dillon Gabriel has only one year left to play college football, but he’s already proven himself a successful quarterback. Last year at Oklahoma, the senior completed an impressive 69% of his passes for 3,660 yards, making him an ideal replacement for Bo Nix. His early success in college football has led to partnerships with major brands like Guardian Sports, Ajinomoto Foods Europe, and Nike. Now he’s among the top 10 most valuable college athletes for brand deals, valued at $1.4 million according to On3.

Despite his massive success, Gabriel continues to strive for growth. He shined as the Ducks’ new starting quarterback during Oregon’s recent spring showpiece at Autzen Stadium. While previous stars like Bo Nix often turned the NFL draft after similar success, Gabriel showcased a new kind of motto. Instead of taking a risky chance of being drafted late in the NFL, he chose to return to college and improve his skills. This decision will likely improve his draft chances while increasing his impressive NIL earnings.