One can argue about the ills of name, image and likeness (NIL) laws that have allowed collegiate athletes to profit from third-party entities since the summer of 2021. A common gripe among those in the college sports circles is how NIL legislation has opened Pandora's box, supplying unsustainable amounts of money to players and shifting the power balance even more in the direction of Power 4 schools. But on Friday, NIL was also used as a vehicle to give back. All the latest sports news from Hawaii's sports station Former Mililani quarterback Dillon Gabriel, now a graduate student at the University of Oregon, utilized his connections to set up an event as his former stomping grounds, outfitting the Trojans football team with new Nike uniforms and helmets. As part of his "I'm Inspired" event on Friday, a bevy of companies both local and national came together to support Mililani athletics. Even the Manny Pacquiao foundation was listed as one of the sponsors. “It means a lot. Obviously, this wouldn’t be able to happen without (NIL)," Gabriel told KHON2 on Friday. "It all coming together, I think it’s bigger than me and having all these brands and companies coming together to impact my community, it’s something that I’m super blessed and grateful for and excited for everyone to see the new jerseys and the football boys once they get to play in it this fall.” --- In the fall, Gabriel will start at Oregon for his final year of college football. He will don the jersey number 8, something that hasn't been done by an Oregon quarterback since Saint Louis alumnus Marcus Mariota's Heisman Trophy run in 2014. “Gave him a little text," Gabriel said of Mariota. "He was super supportive and having a guy to look up to and ultimately playing at the same school he did, it’s something special and I take a huge grateful attitude towards it and appreciative that I get to represent Oregon as well. This is gonna be super cool and I can’t wait to get it rolling. “I remember 10 years ago I’m watching him play and now being able to suit up in the ‘8’ in Oregon, it’s crazy to think about but now we’re here. … Excited to get some TDs in Auzten (Stadium) and just have a lot of fun doing it.” At Oregon, Gabriel will honor those who came before him, even if they never made it to campus. During Mariota's run, Oregon became the dream school for many quarterbacks in Hawaii, including former Mililani star McKenzie Milton. Although Milton impressed at an Oregon camp, the coaching staff already had a scholarship put aside for Justin Herbert, the eventual No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After then-Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost got the head coaching job at Central Florida, he was finally able to give Milton the scholarship he felt he deserved. Milton took UCF to new heights, pinnacled with a win over Auburn in the 2018 Peach Bowl, leading the Knights to a 13-0 season and claimed national championship. A devastating leg injury against South Florida in 2018 was the last time Milton would see the field for UCF, but not before he convinced head coach new Josh Heupel to take a chance on Gabriel, who decommitted from Army in order to follow Milton's footsteps to Orlando. “It’s special," Gabriel said. "I’m very grateful for my journey and being able to do that and being where those two guys played, it’s something you watched but now you get to end up doing. A lot of fun. “You dream of the big time moments, the big time atmospheres and big time games. Now being able to play in them is something that can’t get any better than that so I'm super excited for it.” The possibilities seem endless for Gabriel and Oregon in the fall. Armed with a talented and experienced roster, the Ducks appear primed for national title contention in their first year of Big Ten Conference membership. Another solid season for Gabriel would also boost his draft stock, giving the state of Hawaii another left-handed NFL quarterback. “College football is a great time in everyone’s lives and I just want to be able to maximize it, maximize every opportunity," Gabriel said. "Every memory I have, it’s been a great journey thus far and I can’t wait to continue it.” But before he embarked on the most important year yet of his football journey, Gabriel made sure to pay his hometown team another visit. “Just coming together and having a great time," he said when asked about the advice he'd give the Trojans. "They’re in a pivotal time of trying to figure out their passion and what they’ll do in the future and the memories they create on the football field are things they’ll be talking about when they’re old and no longer able to play ball. Those are friendships that’ll last a lifetime. Just want them to cherish it, have a great time doing it and ultimately, it’s Mililani football. It don’t get any better than that.”