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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Dillon Gabriel grew up in Hawai’i idolizing Marcus Mariota, a fellow Hawaiian who won the Heisman Trophy at Oregon and helped make the dream of a local kid wanting to play big-time college football tangible.
Since then, Gabriel has forged a record-setting college football career of his own, entering the 2024 season — his sixth — poised to leave his mark as one of the sport’s most prolific quarterbacks.
Gabriel transferred to Oregon from Oklahoma this winter for his final year of college football, after playing his first three seasons at UCF and two with the Sooners. Along the way, he has accounted for 14,865 passing yards, 49 starts and 33 wins, per ESPN Stats & Information, which makes him the FBS leader in all categories.
By the time he finishes at Oregon this season, he could end up as the NCAA’s No. 2 all-time passer and set the record for starts as a quarterback.
Somewhere amid all those passes, he has gone from an aspirational young Hawaiian to the caliber of player the next generation aspires to become.
“The journey of playing at a young age in Hawai’i to now, you understand that you represent so much more than yourself,” Gabriel told ESPN last week. “I understand that I represent the state of Hawai’i, and everyone who has done it before me has done it that way.”
Gabriel’s appreciation for his roots manifested itself Friday night at Mililani High School on Oahu, where he graduated and won the Gatorade State Player of the Year award in 2018.
He hosted an event called “I’m Inspired” at his old school, which included unveiling the new Nike football jerseys and full uniform equipment that he donated to the team at Mililani. Nearly 500 people attended the block-party-style event. Over the past three years, Gabriel has raised more than $250,000 for Mililani High.
Emotions ran high as Gabriel discussed giving back to a place that gave so much to him.
“That’s what makes me emotional,” he told ESPN, “being once that kid who wanted to be like Marcus and play at the next level and the biggest stages with your teammates that you’ve grinded with. It’s priceless. I want that the same for all these kids, for Mililani and also on the island.”
As Gabriel ascends in the college record book this season, he will also be chasing other legends of the past in Hawai’i. Gabriel is No. 8 on the all-time passing list currently. A 3,000-yard season at Oregon would put him at No. 2 — trailing only former Houston quarterback Case Keenum (19,217) and ahead of former Hawai’i quarterback (and current Hawai’i coach) Timmy Chang, who threw for 17,072 yards.
Gabriel called Chang a “close family friend,” and said he hopes any talk of the record chase shines a light on the teammates and coaches Gabriel has had along the way.
He said he’ll smile if he surpasses Chang for the state of Hawaii’s passing mark. “He isn’t going to be happy with me,” Gabriel said with a laugh.
Gabriel threw 30 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma. If he matches that total this year, he’ll tie Keenum for the FBS touchdown record (155), though he stressed that he doesn’t dwell on statistics. Gabriel is also No. 8 on the touchdown passing list, and has a chance to jump ahead of another former Hawaii legend, Colt Brennan, among others this season.
“I’ve been lucky to play in some dang good offenses and have great players around me that ultimately make it happen together,” Gabriel said. “I love to shed light on being part of some great teams.”
Gabriel, 23, said he got to build a rapport with Mariota, 30, in part because their mothers bumped into each other at a grocery store early in Gabriel’s college career. Mariota’s mother offered up her son’s phone number for any questions. Gabriel learned how much an encouraging text means from someone who he grew up idolizing.
Gabriel began his journey of giving back to his community nearly three years ago, when he provided the Mililani varsity basketball team, coached by his father, new shoes and uniforms. At the time, he couldn’t afford to outfit the football team.
Since then, he has donated money to the school used, in part, to buy uniforms for softball, girls’ volleyball and girls’ soccer as well as both basketball teams. He also has donated gear and products from at least nine different sponsorship ties, giving him an unintended business education thanks to the new collegiate name, image and likeness rules.
“This is bigger than me,” he said. “That’s the most special part about it. And knowing so many people came together to touch this project to finally get to this point.”
“You couldn’t ask for a better experience and vibe,” Gabriel’s manager, Steve Smith, said of Friday night’s event.
He said that on Thursday night, at a dinner to leading up to the event, Gabriel got choked up when addressing the coaches, administrators and sponsors who helped make it happen.
“I love this community, I love this island and I love Hawai’i,” Gabriel said. “It’s special to me. If I can make a small impact and change the trajectory of just one kid’s life — I hope there’s more — but it’s all worth it. It’s all about inspiring the younger generation.
“I hope this creates an inspiration to do more, knowing that other people have done it.”
After the success of “I’m Inspired,” Gabriel is hoping to help make it an annual event. And he’s aiming for the ripple of inspiration he felt from Marcus Mariota to continue to the next generation.