#ChargeOn Today: Sleeping on DG 😴 — Transfer SZN — Mafia Matt
Happy Wednesday, my friends!
🥵 It’s a hot one in Orlando today, with a high of 95° degrees! Is it September yet? Stay hydrated and let’s Charge On.
Word count: 1,173 words (7 minutes).
1 trending thing: 😴 Don't sleep on DG
Gabriel is one of the nation's top QBs entering 2021. (Photo via UCF Athletics)
While we all consider UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel to be a dark-horse Heisman candidate and one of the best quarterbacks in college football, some of the folks that put together their NFL Draft prospect lists don’t seem to be as enthused.
Where DG stands: Seth Galina, a college football analyst for Pro Football Focus, ranked Gabriel outside his Top 5 quarterbacks for the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Top 5: 1. Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma), 2. Sam Howell (North Carolina), 3. Kedon Slovis (USC), 4. Malik Willis (Liberty), 5. D'Eriq King (Miami).
Honorable Mention: Gabriel (UCF), Matt Corral (Ole Miss), JT Daniels (Georgia), Michael Penix Jr. (Indiana) and Jayden Daniels (Arizona State).
Aren’t you forgetting someone? 🤔 While Gabriel might be better, omitting Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder from this honorable mention list is a crime. The reigning American Conference Player of the Year is a 6-foot-4, dual-threat quarterback that has 77 career touchdowns in three seasons. The soon-to-be girl dad said he stayed in college to be able to enjoy the first year of his daughter’s life - and wants another shot at an undefeated regular season with the Bearcats.
Last Dance: Becoming a Girl Dad helped keep star QB in college football
Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder could become one of college football’s winningest quarterbacks this season. But that’s not exactly front of mind for him right now.
As for Gabriel, I’m pretty sure he got the message ✅
😴😴😴...
How DG stacks up 📈: Let’s compare Gabriel’s numbers to the other quarterbacks Galina had ranked ahead of him.
Spencer Rattler, OU (14 games): 67.4% completion pct., 3,112 pass yards, 29 pass TD, 7 INT, 183 rush yards, 6 rush TD.
Sam Howell, UNC (25 games): 64.4% completion pct., 7,227 pass yards, 68 pass TD, 14 INT, 186 rush yards, 6 rush TD.
Kedon Slovis, USC (18 games): 70% completion pct., 5,424 pass yards, 47 pass TD, 16 INT, -114 rush yards, 0 rush TD.
Malik Willis, Liberty (22 games, 12 at Auburn): 64.9% completion pct., 2,319 pass yards, 21 pass TD, 6 INT, 1,253 rush yards, 16 rush TD.
D'Eriq King, Miami (45 games, 34 at Houston): 62.6% completion pct., 7,611 pass yards, 73 pass TD, 15 INT, 1,959 rush yards, 32 rush TD.
Gabriel, UCF (23 games): 59.7% completion pct., 7,223 pass yards, 61 pass TD, 11 INT, 247 rush yards, 6 rush TD.
The verdict 👨⚖️: Gabriel has put up some gaudy numbers in a short time at UCF, part of which is a product of the system he plays in. The digs at his accuracy will be there, so that’s certainly an area he’ll need to improve on in 2021, but there’s no denying he deserves to be in the conversation of the best pro prospects.
The talent level - and NFL build - of guys like Rattler, Howell and Slovis is hard to argue against, but Gabriel belongs with the bunch. His footwork, arm strength and deep ball touch pop on tape.
Give me a Knugget 🐴: This may explain some of the low completion percentage numbers. Per PFF, Gabriel has the fifth-most passing touchdowns in the country since 2019 (61) and the most dropped passes (65).
Deeper Dive 🤿:
Why Dillon Gabriel’s arm makes him a future NFLer (The Draft Network)
Examining the top prospects at quarterback for the 2022 NFL Draft (Athlon Sports)
Projecting college football’s top 25 quarterbacks in 2021 (247 Sports)
It's transfer SZN: Who's coming and going
UCF loses a pair of tight ends, quarterback to the transfer portal https://t.co/2KGx2oYNuO https://t.co/Y3GZDnwcnD
The NCAA has opened Pandora’s box when it green-lighted the one-time transfer rule, allowing Division I athletes the ability to transfer one time in a college career and be immediately eligible to play. That starts with the 2021-22 academic year.
A refresher: NCAA Board of Directors ratifies one-time transfer legislation allowing athletes immediate eligibility (via CBS Sports).
Immediately, the flood gates began to open. It may be hard to keep track of all the transfers, so here’s a quick recap of who’s in and who’s out at UCF.
Who’s in: Maybe former Auburn DB Chris Thompson Jr.?
Who’s out: TE Tony Forrest Jr., QB Gaston Moore, DE Jae’Vien Gill, and TE Nathan Boerboom.
Deeper Dive 🤿:
Rule Change Prompts a Game of Musical Chairs in College Basketball (NY Times)
With NCAA one-time transfer legislation adopted, players, coaches and teams will navigate uncertain waters (CBS Sports)
Meet the Mafia: Matt Fontana, UCF '11
Matt with his father at a Dallas Mavericks game.
Each week, we’ll meet as member of the UCF Twitter Mafia here on the newsletter. If you have a suggestion, email me.
Meet Matt! He’s an awesome dude and a good friend.
Graduated 🎓: 2011
From 🏠: New York, NY
Current city 📍: Dallas, TX
Current job 👔: Senior Manager of Group Sales at Dallas Mavericks
Twitter handle 🐦: @Matthew_Fontana
Favorite UCF memory 🏈: Mike Hughes kickoff return to beat USF in the 2017 American Conference Championship Game.
Random fact ❓: Matt and I hosted a radio show together at UCF for three years. How can ya’ll forget The Sports Report with Ryan Bass on WKNT Knightcast? Matt’s nickname for the show? The New York Sports Guy.
Only 120 more sleeps until we get UCF football back in our lives. You’re welcome for the countdown. See ya’ll later.
️ - Ryan
By Ryan Bass
The #ChargeOn Today Newsletter is dedicated to covering trending UCF Athletics news and topics. Have some feedback? Shoot me a message: chargeontoday@gmail.com
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