Who will back up Dillon Gabriel at QB? OU football has 'proven guys in the room'

ARLINGTON, Texas — OU’s starting quarterback is clear.

Dillon Gabriel was long ago named the starter.

Who backs up Gabriel, though, is more in doubt.

The Sooners added two to the room recently in Pitt transfer Davis Beville and junior college transfer General Booty.

The Sooners also have redshirt sophomore Micah Bowens, freshman Nick Evers and redshirt freshman walk-on Ralph Rucker as backups to Gabriel.

“It gives us a lot more comfort. All of us, as a coaching staff,” OU coach Brent Venables said at Big 12 Media Days of adding Beville and Booty. “We’ve gotten proven guys in the room, certainly, at that position. There’s nothing like experience. … We would have been really uncomfortable all year had you not had some additional personnel.”

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Beville threw for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception last season, completing 17 of 22 passes at Pitt.

Booty threw for 3,115 yards and 25 touchdowns last season at Tyler Junior College, finishing second in the nation among junior college quarterbacks.

Gabriel said a big key in how the depth chart ultimately falls will be how well the quarterbacks grasp the offense.

“He’s (Beville) been spinning the ball, as well as General,” Gabriel said. “But more importantly, I think playing the QB position, you’ve got to be very cerebral, very smart, very intelligent when it comes to plays. I’ve seen a bunch of guys who can sling it really well but just can’t put that side of it together. But knowing that they have that … when we talked ball they’re very intelligent about it.”

OU football extra points

Here’s a look at some other takeaways from the Sooners’ appearance at Big 12 Media Days:

∎ Venables said adding former Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells to the staff was important.

“For me, I’m a first-time head coach. I need some good counsel,” Venables said. “A wise man learns from others. So I’m going to try to surround myself with as many people as I can that help me. I’m just one person. I just have one brain. If we’re going to be successful, it’s not going to be just because of me. It’s going to be because of all of us.

“We probably won’t keep him long. He’ll have some opportunities. I’m thankful that he chose to come here.”

Wells is from Sallisaw. His brother, Luke, was a student assistant for the Sooners from 1999-2001 when Venables was OU’s co-defensive coordinator.

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Dillon Gabriel on running backs, Jeff Lebby

∎ Gabriel on running back Bentavious Thompson, who played at UCF from 2017-20 before spending last season enrolled at the school but not with the football team:

“I think everyone just needs a believer, you know? I’m the biggest believer in Beno,” Gabriel said. “He’s a downhill runner. Dude just wants to win. Love to run the ball and he’s really good at it. So I’m excited and proud of him.”

Thompson, who ran for 1,136 yards and 13 touchdowns from 2018-20, joined the Sooners this summer.

∎ Gabriel on Jeff Lebby now vs. Jeff Lebby at UCF, where he was Gabriel’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019:

“His hair’s gotten longer,” Gabriel said. “He’s been lifting some weights. Nah, I’m playing. Coach has evolved. We’ve been away from each other for two years. Just like he’s evolved, I’ve evolved. We’ve grown. Just to see the growth in his play-calling (then) to now — I always knew he had it in him.”

∎ Gabriel is OU’s first left-handed quarterback since Josh Heupel in 2000.

Gabriel, who played for Heupel in 2018 and 2019 at UCF, said he talked with Heupel briefly after he made his decision to transfer to OU.

“So grateful to him,” Gabriel said. “A great conversation being able to talk to him and catch up, and obviously wish him the best of luck.”

Heupel is entering his second season as Tennessee’s coach.

Marvin Mims on OU trash-talking & more

∎ Wide receiver Marvin Mims said he and defensive back Justin Broiles regularly talk trash in practice.

“That dude,” Mims said. “Don’t get me started on him.”

Mims went on to say Broiles initiated the good-natured back-and-forths between the two.

“I’m not going to say something first, but when he says something, I’m not going to take it,” Mims said. “Young Marvin would have taken it. I’m in year three now, not going to take it anymore. That’s just who Justin is.”

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∎ Mims said he’s up to 184 pounds after being listed at 177 last season.

“Still the same speed there,” Mims said. “I’m feeling pretty good, look at myself in the mirror and like what I’m seeing.”

∎ Mims sees an opportunity for fellow receiver Theo Wease to have a breakout season after appearing in just one game last season with no catches.

“You can definitely tell his mentality’s different,” Mims said. “He’s older. He has more on the table and less years to lose. He definitely wants it and he’s looking like it.”

Wease, who had 37 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns in 2020, missed almost all of last season due to injury.

∎ Defensive lineman Marcus Stripling has played quite a bit during his first three seasons at OU, but he’s yet to take a starring role.

Sophomore defensive end Ethan Downs said Stripling could finally be ready to take off.

“He’s had the best summer he’s ever had,” Downs said. “He’s reaching a scary good element in his game. He’s fast, he’s strong, and now he’s confident and consistent.”

∎ Woodi Washington and Jeremiah Criddell arrived together as part of the 2019 signing class.

Criddell played in all 11 games in 2020 but played just three last season before injuries ended his collegiate career.

Criddell is now a student assistant for the Sooners.

“He’s been one of my best friends since I’ve been here,” Washington said of Criddell. “So for him to not be able to play any more, it definitely sucks but he’s found a way with coaching.

“He’s real passionate in it and he likes it a lot so I look forward to seeing what he has in store for the future.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Who is Sooners' backup quarterback behind Dillon Gabriel?