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Dillon Gabriel Flips Commitment to Oklahoma from UCLA After Williams Enters Portal

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 4, 2022

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 11: Dillon Gabriel #11 of the UCF Knights attempts a pass during warmups against Bethune Cookman Wildcats at the Bounce House on September 11, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Alex Menendez/Getty Images

UFC transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel announced that he was joining Oklahoma, flipping a prior commitment to UCLA.

Dillon Gabriel @_dillongabriel_

They say life’s a gamble like rolling the dice… DIMETIME <a href="https://t.co/8xGNDWjaR3">pic.twitter.com/8xGNDWjaR3</a>

Dillon Gabriel @_dillongabriel_

1 2 3… <a href="https://twitter.com/OU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OU_Football</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ukip8FCvtW">pic.twitter.com/Ukip8FCvtW</a>

Pete Thamel @PeteThamel

Dillon Gabriel heading to Oklahoma to re-unite with Jeff Lebby, his old OC at UCF. The QB carousel in college football is spinning faster than ever.

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB

Former UCF QB Dillon Gabriel who was expected to begin classes at UCLA today, announces that he's heading to Oklahoma instead. (A follow up to today's big Caleb Williams transfer portal news)

That followed Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams' announcement earlier on Monday that he was entering the transfer portal. 

Caleb Williams @CALEBcsw

<a href="https://t.co/8GcVHURSIL">pic.twitter.com/8GcVHURSIL</a>

Gabriel, 21, threw for 8,041 yards, 70 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his three seasons with the Knights, completing 60.7 percent of his passes. He had an 18-8 record as the team's starter.

He played in just three games this past season, however, as a broken left clavicle cut his campaign short in September. 

Gabriel's experience and familiarity with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby will make him the frontrunner to serve as the Sooners starter in 2022, assuming Williams indeed departs via the transfer portal. 

The fact that Gabriel flipped his commitment on the same day Williams hit the transfer portal is probably a good indication that Williams isn't returning to Norman, however. 

The freshman had an excellent season for Oklahoma, throwing for 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions after taking over the starting gig from Spencer Rattler, a preseason Heisman hopeful. Rattler has since transferred to South Carolina. 

Replacing that pair with Gabriel is a pretty solid consolation prize for an Oklahoma program likely left reeling by Williams' announcement on Monday.