Although Thursday night’s season-opener between UCF and Boise State will mark the first time the two programs face each other, there is some familiarity between the Broncos head coach Andy Avalos and Knights quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
When Avalos was serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Oregon in 2019 part of his recruiting territory included the state of Hawaii and Gabriel’s high school Mililani on the island of Oahu.
“I recruited Hawaii so I’ve seen Dillon all the way back from Miliani days,” Avalos said Saturday speaking with Orlando media. “[I have] much respect for him, not only as a player but as a person and who he is, how he carries himself, how he leads the team.