It could have been easy for Dillon Gabriel to coast with the NFL Draft just days away.
The NCAA's all-time career leader in touchdown passes is expected to get selected in the 2025 NFL Draft on either Friday or Saturday. But on Tuesday, he made an appearance at Mililani High School, giving back to his alma mater for the second year in a row.
In partnership with Echelon Fitness, Gabriel donated brand new, state-of-the-art training and recovery equipment. A blessing was held for the Gabriel Family Training Room and the Gabriel Family Weight Room.
Before the unveiling of both of the new rooms for Mililani athletes, a blessing was held in Mililani's gym, where Gabriel spoke to hundreds of the school's current athletes. Gabriel thanked his high school football coach, Rod York, then got choked up as he addressed the current Trojans.
"You got a believer in me," he told the student-athletes representing various athletic teams.
Gabriel, a 2018 Mililani alumnus, left high school as Hawai‘i's all-time prep passing yardage leader, a feat later surpassed by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Gabriel started his college career at UCF, then spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Oklahoma. With an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he played his 2024 season at Oregon.
In 2024, Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing third in the voting after becoming just the fourth player from a Hawai‘i high school to be a Heisman finalist.
Last May, Gabriel used a portion of his NIL earnings to donate new Nike uniforms and equipment to various Mililani High School teams. On Tuesday, he unveiled another set of uniforms for the football team.
As a youth, Gabriel was a student a Punahou before deciding he wanted to attend high school in his hometown. Recalling the good times with his high school teammates comes easy to him.
"All the little times of the boys probably in between practices and lifts and us just messing around, and that time in the gym when we would sleep over (during preseason camp), and those hard practices that we got through together," Gabriel recalled following the ceremony. "There's so many core memories that have truly allowed me to keep being myself in this whole journey and not lose what's made me, and that's Mililani.
"That's the people that know me for who I am and what I value. Mililani is just a great reminder of that. Every time I come home, it's the reset I need, and I'm just happy to be home."
The 2025 NFL Draft begins on Thursday with the first round. Gabriel is expected to be selected on either Day 2 on Friday (rounds 2-3) or Day 3 on Saturday (rounds 4-7).
"I'm at peace," Gabriel said of his pre-draft emotions. "I'm at peace with knowing that all the work I put out there, I'm confident in that and know that I'll go to the right spot. That's all I want. I've been praying for just the right spot and the right path that God has set out for me. I'm excited. It's been a lot of unknown and uncertainty, but that's where I've grown the most."
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
