Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is using his football platform to promote safety. (Photo by Ali ... More Gradischer/Getty Images)

On an October afternoon in 2022, Dillon Gabriel lay motionless on the turf, his head slammed into the ground by a late hit. The Oklahoma quarterback had just suffered a concussion—one that sidelined him, shook his confidence and reshaped his sense of purpose.

Now, after leading Oregon to an undefeated season, becoming a Heisman finalist and on the verge of being drafted into the NFL, Gabriel is using his platform to protect the next generation of athletes from the injuries that once threatened his dream.

The Hawaii native is giving back to the youth football program that shaped him, leveraging his NIL success to raise awareness about concussions and player safety.

One partner is Echelon Fitness, which on April 22 helped him donate state-of-the-art training and recovery equipment to his alma mater, Mililani High School. The gift follows a 2023 NIL partnership with Vicis Helmets that provided $65,000 worth of advanced helmets to the school’s football team.

“I love investing in relationships and being able to help other people,” Gabriel said. “I understand that when I had that certain resource in college... it allowed me to excel and play at a high level and maximize my opportunity.”

After graduating from Mililani High School in 2018 as Hawaii’s all-time prep passing leader, Gabriel began his college career at the University of Central Florida. He later transferred to Oklahoma, where he spent two seasons before joining Oregon in 2024.

That final season with the Ducks proved historic, as........

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