Dillon Gabriel decided NFL could wait after Oregon came calling [Video]

Gabriel will wear the same No. 8 jersey as another quarterback from Hawaii who played for the Ducks, 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

INDIANAPOLIS — Dillon Gabriel, speaking at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on Thursday, said thought he would jump to the NFL after last season, but when Oregon offered him a chance to stay in school and play in a fast, high-scoring offense that could improve his draft stock, he changed his mind.

Gabriel heads into this season as potentially the conference’s best quarterback and perhaps the league’s top Heisman Trophy contender.

Gabriel completed 69.3% of his passes for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, throwing only six interceptions in his second season at Oklahoma. He also had 12 TD runs.

Now, he seems content to be the next in a long line of strong Oregon quarterbacks.

“I think I’m right where I need to be,” he said.

“When I …