Former Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. could have the perfect opportunity set up for him, and it says a lot about OU in 2026
Michael Hawkins Jr. transferring likely means John Mateer is back in 2026.
The NCAA transfer portal has been open for only a few days, yet the Oklahoma Sooners have already seen quite a few departures. The Sooners have lost over half of their offensive line and a handful of weapons to the transfer portal, while another handful of players have entered the 2026 NFL Draft. Oklahoma also lost its backup quarterback in Michael Hawkins Jr.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Hawkins Jr. is set to visit with the West Virginia Mountaineers this week. Various recruiting sites have Hawkins going to the Mountaineers. If he did that, there’s a high chance he would be the starting quarterback in 2026, which is perfect for him. Not to mention, former Sooners assistant GM Chuck Lillie is now at West Virginia. However, Hawkins’ decision to transfer suggests that quarterback John Mateer is back with the Sooners in 2026.
Sooners could likely have 2026 four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley as the new backup
Hawkins was the backup last year and was thrown into the fire as a true freshman when Jackson Arnold was benched. He won the Sooners their first-ever SEC conference game against the Auburn Tigers, in a game where he had a 50-yard rushing touchdown and a big-time pass to J.J. Hester for 21 yards. The famous phrase “Sooner Magic” returned that day.
This year, Hawkins only played when the Sooners blew someone out or when Mateer had hand surgery and was out against Kent State. He’s got some great potential, and everyone can see that. He’s just got to put it on the field.
Mateer will likely be the starter in 2026. His 2025 season was not nearly what he had hoped, and his stock has fallen. So, he will likely come back and try to have a better season so that he can get drafted next season. That means, unless there are any crazy changes in the portal, Bentley could be the immediate backup to Mateer.
Bentley is a four-star recruit the Sooners hope can be their star quarterback in 2027.
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