Dillon Gabriel on Heisman hype: ‘I’m so obsessed with just winning’

Ahead of the 2024 college football campaign for the Oregon Ducks, quarterback Dillon Gabriel is receiving immense Heisman hype.
While it’s his first season in Eugene, Gabriel has shown enough during his previous stops to believe he’s poised to perform well during Year 1 in Oregon. After the seasons Bo Nix put together for the Ducks, the sky is the limit for Gabriel.
Even with the hype he’s receiving, Gabriel isn’t focused on the Heisman. He’s blocking out the noise, and letting the media do all the talking about individual awards as he leads Oregon into battle this season.
“I’ve been, not even within talks. I’ve been at the top of the talks, and everything in between, and I just realize that none of it matters, you know,” the Oregon quarterback said, regarding the Heisman hype in 2024. “I think, just like people, it’s like, what have you done for me lately? What kind of person have you been to me lately? That’s kind of what I pride myself on. you know. You’re only as good as your last, you know, game or practice or performance. So, that’s what I’m focused on. The rest will take care of itself.
“And like I said, I’m so, you know, obsessed with just winning. Like, that’s the main focus and goal, and the rest will take care of itself.”
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While Nix didn’t win the Heisman at Oregon, he helped Dan Lanning cultivate a winning culture during his short stint with the Ducks. Now, Gabriel is following in his footsteps, even if Lanning explained why the two quarterbacks aren’t exactly alike.
“It’s so fun because I would tell you that Dillon is so different than Bo, who we just had. But what he is is authentic,” Lanning said. “He’s a guy that really cares about people. He’s tied into the managers on the team and whoever the janitor is walking around the hallway, the other players. When he walks in a room he’s interested in you, he wants to know about you. And it’s really authentic and it matters.
“I think he learned quickly I need to connect with the team first before I can get out there and be a vocal leader, so it’s been fun to watch.”
Alas, Dillon Gabriel’s mindset is the right one to have for a championship contender, and that’s what Oregon is in 2024. We’ll see if the Ducks can make good on their immense potential this season.