While this pick doesn't necessarily have UCF's name on it, the Knights certainly have a bit of a claim to Dillon Gabriel and his college career. Gabriel began his career in Orlando before transferring to Oklahoma and then Oregon, and now the Cleveland Browns are taking a chance on the young gunslinger.
The Browns are a bit down in the quarterback room with starter Deshaun Watson out for the entirety of next season and only Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the roster, so the Gabriel pick makes sense. Cleveland could have taken a chance on a QB like Shedeur Sanders, who many thought they would select, but instead for with the Hawaii native who has literally played all over the country.
Gabriel was selected with the No. 94 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
UCF will always remember what Gabriel did for the Knights program
Even the UCF Football social media congratulated Grabiel on his selection in the NFL Draft. Gabriel spent the first three years of his college career with the Knights before transferring to Oklahoma for two seasons and then Oregon for his final college season.
While at UCF, Gabriel became a breakout star in his freshman year after being thrust into the starting role after an injury to Brandon Wimbush early in the season. Gabriel threw for 3,653 yards that season and 29 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. As a young freshman, fans were dazzled by his arm strength and ability to get the ball down the field accurately.
Gabriel impressed even more in his second season at UCF with 3,570 passing yards, which led the American Athletic Conference, along with 32 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions. UCF felt they had a real star on their hands, but after that season, head coach Josh Heupel and athletic director Danny White ended up leaving for Tennessee, which led to UCF hiring Gus Malzahn as the new head coach.
It was rumored that Gabriel and Malzahn did not get along great, and after an injury in just the third game of the season in his junior season, Gabriel announced later that he planned to enter the transfer portal, effectively ending his career in Orlando.
After UCF joined the Big 12 in 2023, the Knights met up with Gabriel just once when he was with Oklahoma, a game that came down to the wire, but the Sooners prevailed.
Even though Gabriel didn't finish his career in a UCF uniform, he still got his start with the Knights, and that forever will be remembered.