Best college football quarterback in every Power 5 conference for 2023
By John Buhler
Big 12: Brent Venables may not be good, but Oklahoma still has Dillon Gabriel
The Big 12 may be an incredibly competitive league, one that is almost certainly getting two teams into the College Football Playoff annually once we expand the field from four teams to 12. However, it is lacking right now in the quarterback department. Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning may have so much talent, but are unproven. And that leaves us with Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel.
The Hawaiian southpaw first rose to semi-national prominence over at UCF. He transferred to OU last season to reunite with his former Knights offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Unfortunately, Brent Venables look over his skis as a first-time head coach. The good news is Oklahoma is still Oklahoma, and that is why the Sooners are poised for a major bounce-back season in the Big 12.
Should OU go 11-1 and play for the Big 12 title one last time, it would not be the least bit shocking if Gabriel makes it to New York. Although he may not have the physical attributes NFL general managers will salivate over from the quarterback position, Gabriel has banked a ton of starts at quality programs. He is probably at or near his ceiling collegiately, but he has the highest of floors.
How Gabriel plays this fall will go a long way towards Venables having staying power in Norman.