Honestly, looking back at the 2024 preseason, the hype around Dillon Gabriel felt almost suffocating. Every sports bar talk and Twitter thread in Eugene was obsessed with one thing: could a kid from Hawaii via Oklahoma really replace the legendary Bo Nix?
People were scouring over every tiny detail. We’re talking about a guy who had already thrown for over 14,000 yards before he even stepped foot in Oregon’s locker room. But the "preseason" for a college quarterback isn't just August camp; it's that long, agonizing stretch from the spring game through the first snap of the season.
The numbers from that stretch told a story that many ignored.
The Spring Game: First Look at the "Green Team"
The real dillon gabriel preseason stats started on a Saturday in April 2024. About 40,000 fans packed Autzen Stadium just to see if the lefty had the "it" factor. He didn't disappoint, leading the Green Team to a 28-17 victory over the White Team.
Gabriel finished that afternoon going 14-of-21 for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
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Zero interceptions.
That was the kicker. He looked efficient. He looked like he’d been running Will Stein’s offense for three years, not three months. He connected with Evan Stewart on a 49-yard bomb that basically told the rest of the Big Ten to start worrying.
It wasn't just the arm, though. It was the decision-making. In that simulated environment, Gabriel showed a 66% completion rate that would eventually balloon to a staggering 72.9% during the actual regular season.
Reading Between the Lines of the Preseason Hype
By the time July rolled around, the betting markets were losing their minds. Gabriel’s Heisman odds were bouncing all over the place. He opened around +1000 at many books, but sharp money pushed him down to +800 and eventually +600 in some spots before the Idaho opener.
Why? Because of the "invisible" stats.
He was entering his sixth year of college football. Think about that. Most people are finishing grad school or starting their second job by year six. Gabriel was entering the season with 63 career starts—the most in FBS history.
- Career Yards Entering 2024: Over 14,800.
- Career TDs Entering 2024: 125.
- Experience Level: Basically a 24-year-old playing against 19-year-olds.
When people looked at the dillon gabriel preseason stats, they weren't just looking at the spring game box score. They were looking at a resume that was already Hall of Fame caliber.
The First "Real" Test: Week 1 vs. Idaho
While technically the start of the regular season, the first game functions as the final exam of the preseason process. Oregon won 24-14, which was way closer than anyone liked. But Gabriel’s individual stat line was borderline video-game material.
He went 41-of-49 for 380 yards.
That’s an 83.7% completion rate.
If you were a scout watching that game, you saw a guy who was incredibly accurate but maybe a bit too safe. He took three sacks and lost a fumble, which brought his QBR down to 56.2. It was a "sufficient" start, as the local papers called it. But it confirmed what the preseason metrics suggested: Gabriel was going to be a high-volume, high-accuracy distributor who wouldn't beat himself.
Comparing Gabriel to the Ghost of Bo Nix
You can't talk about Gabriel’s early Oregon numbers without mentioning Bo Nix.
Nix left Eugene with an average target depth of 6.8 yards. Gabriel, in his early 2024 showings, was hovering right around 7.0 yards. They were essentially the same player in different jerseys. The preseason data suggested Oregon wouldn't miss a beat because the offensive philosophy hadn't changed; it just had a left-handed trigger man instead of a righty.
Gabriel’s elite 94.7 PFF passing grade on throws over 20 yards (which he maintained through the 2024 season) actually showed he was a better deep-ball threat than Nix was initially credited for being.
Why the Preseason Metrics Mattered for the NFL
Fast forward to the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Cleveland Browns took him in the third round (94th overall).
The scouts didn't care that he was 5'11". They cared about the 189 total touchdowns he eventually accounted for—an FBS record. The preseason indicators of 2024—the high completion percentage, the veteran poise, and the RPO efficiency—all translated to a pro-ready prospect.
He eventually finished his college career tied with Case Keenum for the most passing touchdowns ever (155). That journey started with the quiet, efficient work in the spring of 2024.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking a quarterback's transition through the portal like Gabriel did, don't just look at the yards. Follow these specific indicators that proved Gabriel was a "lock" for success:
- Completion Percentage in Scrimmages: If a guy is hitting 65%+ in a new system during the spring, his floor is incredibly high.
- Adjusted Completion Rate: Gabriel’s 81.9% adjusted rate (accounting for drops) was 2nd in the nation. This is a "stable" stat that usually carries over from preseason to the final game.
- Pressure-to-Sack Ratio: Gabriel remained slippery even in camp. He finished with a 13.9% pressure-to-sack rate, which is elite for a smaller QB.
Watch how a quarterback handles the RPO (Run-Option) game during open practices or spring highlights. Gabriel’s quick trigger in those sets during the preseason was the #1 indicator that Oregon’s offense would remain top-10 in the country.
Keep an eye on the 2026 transfer class. The next "Dillon Gabriel" won't be the guy with the biggest arm; he'll be the guy with 50+ starts and a completion percentage that doesn't dip when the jersey color changes.