The West Virginia Mountaineers have secured their quarterback of the future by signing Michael Hawkins Jr. from the transfer portal. The former backup quarterback from the Oklahoma Sooners will join the Mountaineers for the upcoming season, bringing his brother, Maliek Hawkins, along as part of the deal. Maliek plays cornerback and will add depth to West Virginia’s secondary.
In his two seasons with Oklahoma, Michael Hawkins had limited playing time but showed promise in 2024. He participated in seven games, primarily in less critical situations, but managed to throw for a total of 783 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Notably, he also rushed for 204 yards and scored once on the ground. He demonstrated his skills during the bowl game against Navy, where he threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Analyzing Hawkins’s Performance and Potential
Despite his potential, Hawkins struggled with taking sacks, being brought down 15 times during the 2024 season. In 2025, he appeared in two games against Temple and Kent State, stepping in when starting quarterback John Mateer was sidelined due to injury. In those games, Hawkins passed for 167 yards and recorded four total touchdowns.
Hawkins fits the profile of a quarterback that head coach Rich Rodriguez often seeks—an agile dual-threat player capable of making plays with both his arm and legs. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a 4-star recruit and, according to 247Sports, is ranked as the 42nd quarterback in the transfer portal.
Rodriguez expressed the need for experienced quarterbacks during the offseason, stating, “We will probably still look at one for the portal. Get an experienced guy because of what we went through this year.” This statement reflects the challenges West Virginia faced in their quarterback situation last season, which included multiple injuries.
Implications for West Virginia’s Quarterback Depth Chart
The addition of Hawkins raises questions about the future composition of West Virginia’s quarterback room. True freshman Scotty Fox Jr. started the latter part of the previous season and achieved two victories, showcasing his ability to run the offense effectively. Although Fox’s performance against Texas Tech was underwhelming, he had performed well in previous games. His success has led to speculation regarding whether he remains the starting option moving forward.
With Hawkins entering the mix, competition for the starting position appears likely. The quarterback battle during the 2025 season had already been intense, lasting through spring and summer training camps. Rodriguez has maintained that he does not favor any player; he values performance and potential to contribute to victories.
Maliek Hawkins, who did not see any action in 2025, has four years of eligibility remaining and will bolster West Virginia’s defensive backfield, which has lost several key players to graduation this offseason.
As both Michael and Maliek Hawkins join the Mountaineers, the team looks to solidify its roster and address the challenges faced in recent seasons. With the new signings, West Virginia aims to enhance its chances for a successful campaign in the upcoming years.
