Norman — At the very least one massive offensive piece will return to OU Soccer in 2023.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel introduced his return on Twitter.
“This island boy has discovered a house in Oklahoma,” Gabriel posted.
In his first season with the Sooners after three seasons in Central Florida, Gabriel threw for 3,168 yards and 25 touchdowns and had six interceptions in 12 video games.
It was the bottom passing yards for an OU beginning quarterback in eight seasons, together with Spencer Ratler and Caleb Williams mixed in 2021.
This was the fewest passing touchdowns for an OU starter throughout any interval, together with 2020.
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When Gabriel arrived from Orlando, expectations had been excessive for the Sooners offense. In Orlando, in his 19 video games in 2019-21, he tallied 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns earlier than struggling a career-ending harm.
At Norman, Gabriel reunited with offensive coordinator Jeff Levy, who was the Knights’ offensive coordinator in 2019 when Gabriel threw for a career-high 3,653 yards.
His performances have been inconsistent at occasions — he accomplished solely 43.8% of his passes towards TCU on October 1 earlier than getting injured, and three within the Sooners’ November 5 loss to Baylor. interception, however threw over 400 yards twice. Baker in 2017 made him the primary OU his quarterback since Mayfield to succeed in the mark a number of occasions in a season.
When requested to charge Gabriel’s season after the Sooners’ 35-32 loss to Florida State College on December 29, Levy mentioned, “From an general perspective, many I believe there are good factors,” he mentioned. “I assumed there have been conditions right this moment the place he did an unimaginable job and stored them apart when issues had been going incorrect. He fought to win, took care of soccer and gave us an opportunity to win video games.”
Gabriel’s performances at occasions annoyed Sooners followers who had been used to seeing Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and even Rattler and Williams lead the offense, however Gabriel’s worth is what makes Gabriel stand out. It wasn’t as apparent because it was towards Texas on October 8, when he sat out because of harm.
The Sooners, with Davis Beville changing Gabriel, threw for simply 39 yards in that 49-0 loss.
When he returned the next week towards Kansas, Gabriel threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns.
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His different monster recreation was within the common season finale towards Texas Tech when Gabriel threw for 449 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 51–48 loss on November 26.
Now the query is, will Gabriel’s high goal return?
Extensive receiver Marvin Mims, who led the Sooners with 54 catches for 1,083 yards and 6 touchdowns, has but to announce his choice.
Nonetheless, Gabriel’s charge of return will increase the probability that Mims will determine to return.
Drake Stoops, who tied for second with the Sooners with 39 catches, has already introduced his return choice.
Gabriel’s announcement got here on the identical day UCF offensive lineman Matt Lee, who has been the beginning middle for the Golden Knights for the previous three seasons, visited OU after lately coming into the switch portal.
With two seasons left in qualification, Lee was the starter for UCF in 2020 when Gabriel threw for 3,570 yards and a career-high 32 touchdowns.
With Nick Evers’ latest transfer to Wisconsin, he’ll possible sit behind one other former OU quarterback, Tanner Mordecai, subsequent season.
A five-star prospect and thirteenth general within the 2023 class, in response to rivals, Arnold signed with the Sooners in December.
Beville additionally stays on the Sooners roster, with two seasons left to qualify.
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Dillon Gabriel stats for the 2022 season
This is how OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel fared in his first season with the Sooners.
Passing yards: 3,168 (FBS rank: twenty seventh)
Landing: 25 (T-Twenty fourth)
Interception: 6 (T-Thirty fifth)
This text initially appeared in The Oklahoman: Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel to return to Sooners soccer in 2023