Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel and OL Walter Rouse Earn National Awards After Texas Win
A pair of key pieces on Oklahoma’s offense were honored for their impactful play against Texas on Tuesday.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who already earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week.
Gabriel’s left tackle, Walter Rouse, also earned recognition as he was named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week.
After struggling on four straight drives in the second half, Gabriel, Rouse and the Oklahoma offense delivered an iconic drive to knock off the then-No. 3 Texas Longhorns 34-30 in the 2023 Red River Rivalry.
The Sooners marched 75 yards in 62 seconds, sending the Crimson half of the Cotton Bowl into pandemonium when Gabriel hit wide receiver Nic Anderson for the game-winning 3-yard touchdown pass.
Gabriel finished the game completing 23-of-38 passes for 285 yards and one score, adding 113 yards and another touchdown on 14 carries. When the dust settled in Dallas, Gabriel became the first Sooner to ever throw for 250 yards and rush for 100 yards in the Red River Rivalry.
Rouse anchored the left side of an OU offensive line that only surrendered one sack and two quarterback hurries against the talented Longhorn defensive line.
Perhaps no play was more impactful up front, however, then when Rouse held off two Texas pass rushers to give Gabriel enough time to find Anderson in the end zone on the final touchdown.
Oklahoma also ran for 201 yards on the day, averaging 4.7 yards per carry in the win.
Entering the week, Texas’ defense averaged 2.8 sacks per game and had only allowed 94.6 rushing yards per game.
With the Golden Hat safely back in Norman, OU will now get to recover and self-scout as the Sooners are off this weekend.
No. 5 Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will return to action on Oct. 21, hosting the UCF Knights (3-3, 0-3) at 11 a.m. at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in a conference battle that will be broadcast on ABC.
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