Inside OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, Dillon Gabriel's reunion at Manning Passing Academy

When Dillon Gabriel landed in New Orleans late Thursday night for the four-day Manning Passing Academy, his roommate was sound asleep.

As the Oregon quarterback entered their side of the four-bedroom, two-bathroom Nicholls State dorm, Gabriel made no secret of his arrival. He woke Jackson Arnold , his former teammate and understudy at OU, and the two embraced for a bear hug before catching up and listening to music.

“He's my brother for life,” Gabriel told The Oklahoman . “Just seeing him again was a blast. It's been a long time coming.”

Arnold and Gabriel’s reunion as camp counselors at one of the premiere quarterback camps in the country for youth football players from eighth grade to seniors in high school couldn’t have come at a better time. The two are training and preparing for their respective seasons and found comfort in discussing their experiences.

When he transferred to play for the Ducks, Gabriel handed Arnold the keys to the Sooners’ offense. Under new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell , Arnold will throw to a loaded receiving core but will play behind a completely rebuilt offensive line.

Mussatto: OU officially joins SEC. Time to adapt to Sooners' new world.

In his first collegiate start in the Alamo Bowl to cap last season, Arnold was left scrambling on most plays, forcing throws. He tossed three interceptions but showed flashes of immense talent, including a 63-yard touchdown to Brenen Thompson.

Arnold and Gabriel, as well as fellow quarterbacks Davis Beville, who transferred to South Carolina, and General Booty, who committed to Louisiana Monroe out of the transfer portal, grew a close bond during their time in Norman. They frequently send video selfies to their group chat to update one another on their lives.

“He's excited, all of us quarterbacks, we love playing the position and of course, we all have our timing of when it's time for us to play or take over,” Gabriel said. “And I think he's most excited about that.

"Knowing that he's able to go do it himself, that's going to be fun to watch.”

The Manning Passing Academy camp is jam-packed with each day beginning at 8 a.m. and ending whenever everyone is ready to go to sleep. The counselors coach kids during several practices throughout the day before having their own throwing sessions at night for campers to watch.

Arnold shined in the Friday Night Lights competition, particularly in the deep ball challenge. The counselors, which included top college quarterbacks like Georgia’s Carson Beck, Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, among others, met and talked ball with legendary coaches, including six-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick.

OU in SEC: 16 things for Oklahoma Sooners fans to look forward to in new conference

Throwing side by side again, Gabriel couldn’t help but reminisce to himself about his time with Arnold at OU.

“It was just like the old days,” Gabriel said. “In practice we were always getting in work together. It just reminded me of when we were back in Oklahoma. Time flies, it's crazy it's been six months since, but it was good seeing him and I know he's loving every second of (being the Sooners’ starting quarterback). Being able to just have conversations about it, we needed it for sure.”

Most of Arnold and Gabriel’s time together over the weekend between camp events, during lunch and at night back in their dorm room was spent chatting about each other’s spring and their former teammates. Arnold raved about spring camp with Littrell, someone who was around and even attended quarterback meetings last season when Gabriel was at OU.

Both quarterbacks soaked up every piece of advice Littrell shared with them a season ago. Arnold told Gabriel it’s been special to grow that relationship more.

“Jackson loves that new side of Coach,” Gabriel said. “Obviously, now he's the (offensive coordinator), and he’ll be able to have those conversations where he'll have that time to be coached. He's been loving it, that’s someone I've been around, so I can only imagine him being able to go call (the offense) and be the coach for the (quarterbacks).

“It's super special, and I've only heard good things from Jackson, and Jackson keeps it real with me. So that speaks volume.”

Gabriel’s offseason tradition with his teammates is his DimeTime Retreat, a weekend getaway filled with bonding time and football. Two years ago, he rented an AirBnb at Ratcliff’s Ranch in Lawton, last year the team spent the weekend on a lake and the upcoming season’s Oregon team had its DimeTime Retreat last week, which included DimeTime merch.

More: Is OU football prepared for SEC? Sooners may be better than people think

Arnold talked during the spring about how Gabriel’s initiative inspired him to invite his teammates to hang out outside of football and create bonds this summer.

“For Jackson, I think it's more the concept,” Gabriel said. “Not necessarily the DimeTime Retreat itself, but getting the guys together, getting away from ball and just enjoying each other's company. I know he loves doing that kind of stuff as well.”

With around a month to go until fall camp, Arnold and Gabriel are both dialed in on what they need to do to lead their respective teams through grueling new Big Ten and SEC schedules.

That's why they soaked up as much time together as they could, right up until the moments their flights left. Gabriel and Arnold had dinner in the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The friends, bonded for life, then headed their separate ways with the same goals in mind.

“With me and him, it's always wanting the most success for each other,” Gabriel said. “The support was real when I was playing in how he helped me prepare and how we helped each other in that room. Advice-wise, we just talked through things, having a person that's been in his shoes at that place, and just having conversations about it.

“It was a great time and it was a great thing he was there because that’s family. It was a great weekend to say the least.”

More: How OU athletics is running into SEC with confidence: 'We know where we're going forward'

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Inside OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, Dillon Gabriel's reunion at Manning Passing Academy