Gabriel, Turk Receive Big 12 Preseason Honors

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel was picked as the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year and punter Michael Turk was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the league office announced Wednesday.

Gabriel, a transfer from UCF, has passed for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns vs. 14 interceptions in his college career. He started 25 of his 26 games in three seasons at UCF, completing 60.7% of his passes and rushing for 372 yards and eight touchdowns. The Mililani, Hawaii, product threw at least one touchdown pass in all 26 games, at least two TD passes in 20 contests and at least four in seven outings. His 156.9 passing efficiency rating since start of 2019 season is seventh best nationally among quarterbacks who played each of the last three years (25 games minimum). He played in three games last season before missing the rest of the campaign due to injury.

Turk was an All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2021 after averaging 51.2 yards on 35 punts. Twenty of his punts went for at least 50 yards and eight went for at least 60, while 16 punts were downed inside 20-yard line. The Dallas, Texas, product, who transferred from Arizona State last summer, holds five of the top 14 single-game punting averages (minimum three punts) in Oklahoma history (including the best and third-best marks [59.7 vs. TCU and 58.0 vs. Texas]).

Big 12 Media Days take place July 13 and 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Oklahoma will take its turn on Thursday, July 14, and will be represented by head coach Brent Venables, Gabriel, wide receiver Marvin Mims, defensive end Ethan Downs and cornerback Woodi Washington.

The Sooners open the 2022 season — their first under head coach Brent Venables — Sept. 3 when they host UTEP at 2:30 p.m. CT. For ticket information, fans can call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at 405-325-2424 or click here.