Hawkins Named WVU Starter
West Virginia Names Oklahoma Transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. Starting Quarterback for 2026 Season
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Key Points
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Hawkins arrived at West Virginia as a four-star quarterback recruit with interest from a long list of top programs, including Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, and others, underscoring the high ceiling the Mountaineers pursued.
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Public reporting has stressed that there wasn’t a true fall-camp QB battle and Hawkins has been “the” plan for starting QB1 for WVU for some time, with multiple outlets noting he would start ahead of Scotty Fox Jr.
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Hawkins brings SEC-tested experience from Oklahoma, where he backed up John Mateer and appeared in nine games, including time against SEC competition and the Red River Rivalry, before transferring to WVU.
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Coach Rich Rodriguez has repeatedly teased the timing of the official QB1 reveal while signaling Hawkins is the plan, and he acknowledged Hawkins’s long-term fit with WVU, noting the quarterback room competition and the three-year eligibility window for Hawkins.
West Virginia has named Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season, ending a fall camp competition with true freshman Scotty Fox Jr. Saturday Down South reports Hawkins will lead the Mountaineers in their Sept. 5 home opener against Coastal Carolina. The decision caps months of preseason reporting that positioned the SEC-tested transfer as the clear frontrunner for the job.
Hawkins arrives with nine career games at Oklahoma, 950 passing yards, six touchdowns, and 262 rushing yards on his resume. Heavy notes coach Rich Rodriguez has repeatedly teased the official announcement while signaling confidence in Hawkins's fit with the program. The quarterback brings three years of eligibility remaining and experience facing SEC competition, including the Red River Rivalry against Texas.
Hawkins Arrives as Four-Star Recruit from Top Programs
Hawkins originally committed to West Virginia as a four-star prospect sought by Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, and other elite programs. His choice to transfer from Oklahoma to join the Mountaineers reflected confidence in Rodriguez's system. Voice of Motown confirms Hawkins beat out Fox Jr. after competing throughout fall camp, delivering the experience Rodriguez wanted in his quarterback room.
SEC Experience and Oklahoma Backup Role
At Oklahoma, Hawkins appeared in nine games behind starter John Mateer. Saturday Down South notes he accumulated 950 passing yards and six touchdowns across those appearances. His experience included snaps against SEC teams and the intense Red River Rivalry rivalry matchup, providing seasoning few college quarterbacks his age possess.
Rodriguez's Playful Approach to Naming the Starter
Rich Rodriguez has repeatedly teased when he would announce the official starter without actually naming him publicly until now. Dominion Post reports the coach acknowledged Hawkins's long-term fit while emphasizing the three-year eligibility window. Rodriguez's approach suggests confidence in the decision while keeping Fox Jr. engaged as a capable backup moving forward.
Fox Remains in the Equation as Backup Option
Scotty Fox Jr., a true freshman in 2025, stays part of WVU's quarterback rotation despite losing the starting job. Heavy indicates the competition was genuine but Hawkins's SEC experience and maturity won out. Fox retains upside as a young arm, giving Rodriguez flexibility and depth at the position heading into 2026.
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