Why did Dillon Gabriel transfer? Oklahoma QB enters portal after 2023 college football season

The NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Monday, and already several notable players have decided to test their luck in it.

That's also true of Oklahoma, which on Monday saw two-year starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel enter the portal. His entry is something of a shock, as the fifth-year QB is coming off a season in which he enjoyed career highs in completion percentage, touchdown passes and passing yards for a 10-2 Sooners team that will finish its season in the Alamo Bowl.

What's next for Gabriel is yet to be determined, though it's possible he could follow Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who recently was hired to take over as head coach at Mississippi State. The transfer of Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers also makes it more likely for him to compete in a starting role in Starkville, Mississippi.

Here's a look at why Gabriel's decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal:

REQUIRED READING: What we know about Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold following Dillon Gabriel's departure

Why did Dillon Gabriel transfer?

Gabriel issued a statement on Monday that gave little insight into his reason for entering the transfer portal:

As noted by OU beat writer Ryan Aber, Gabriel's intent was always to remain at Oklahoma in 2023 to help mentor freshman Jackson Arnold — the No. 8 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class and No. 4 overall quarterback, per 247Sports' Composite rankings — before moving on, either to the NFL or with another college team.

Gabriel's success in his most recent season in Norman, coupled with the money he could command in name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, made it a possibility for him to play another season of college football. Where that is remains to be seen.

One potential destination is Mississippi State, where Lebby was recently hired to become the head coach after Zach Arnett's firing.

REQUIRED READING: Why did Dillon Gabriel transfer to Oklahoma from UCF? Explaining OU football QB's decision

Dillon Gabriel stats

• 2023 passing stats: 266 of 384 passing (69.3%) for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns to six interceptions

• 2023 rushing stats: 93 rushes for 373 yards (4.01 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns

Gabriel's entry into the transfer portal should make him one of the most sought-after quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 college football season. He is coming off one of his most statistically prolific seasons at Oklahoma, completing 69.3% of his passes for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns to six interceptions. He has also showcased a dual-threat rushing ability by averaging roughly 4 yards per carry and 12 more scores.

For his career, Gabriel has completed 1,050 of 1,654 passes (63.1%) for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns to 26 interceptions. He has also rushed 349 times for 1,062 yards (3.04 ypc) and 26 touchdowns, 12 of which came in 2023.

Is Dillon Gabriel a senior?

Gabriel's Oklahoma bio lists him as a redshirt senior, with this being his fifth year logging stats (including three seasons with UCF, from which he transferred to play for the Sooners).

Dillon Gabriel years of eligibility

Gabriel has one final year of eligibility remaining to use in 2024, thanks to the extra year afforded all players because of the COVID-19-affected 2020 college football season.

Dillon Gabriel recruit rating

Gabriel entered his college career as a three-star recruit out of Mililani (Hawai'i) High School. He was the No. 754 player in the 2019 recruiting class, the No. 27 pro-style quarterback and the No. 9 player from the state of Hawai'i.

Gabriel has a much higher transfer valuation: He is considered the No. 15 overall player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why did Dillon Gabriel transfer? Oklahoma QB enters portal after season