One of the top draft-eligible players returning for 2023 is Dillon Gabriel.

The choice made by Dillon Gabriel this offseason was among the more significant dominos to fall. He declared Norman to be his “Forever Home” and didn’t wait long to announce his intention to stay in Norman following the Cheez-It Bowl.

Gabriel was a tremendous asset to the Oklahoma Sooners this season. Although it wasn’t good enough to win a Heisman, he had Oklahoma’s offense clicking and helped them position themselves to win every game. Gabriel missed all or most of the Sooners’ losses in the two games that the team lost by a margin greater than a touchdown. The Texas game in the Cotton Bowl that followed, and the TCU game where he was hit so hard that he had a concussion.

Even after accounting for the 49-0 shutout against Texas, Oklahoma averaged 32 points per game. Oklahoma’s chances of winning the Texas game are not assured, but if he is available, the game looks very different.

The Sooners’ offense averaged 35 points per game over the remaining 12 games when the Texas game was taken out of the picture.

One of the reasons the Sooners are optimistic going into the offseason is Gabriel’s return. Maintaining consistency in the most crucial area of the game enables Oklahoma to