Oklahoma backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr. has rare chance to flip the script on his college football career
The Oklahoma Sooners are feeling confident in backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr.
On Tuesday, when the news dropped regarding Oklahoma Sooners star QB John Mateer having surgery, one of the immediate focuses shifted towards backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr. Oklahoma has faith in Hawkins to lead the team, especially considering he’s been in this position before.
However, he may be more suited for the task right now compared to this time last year.
“He’s just grown and matured like all players,” coach Brent Venables told A to Z Sports Oklahoma on Wednesday on the weekly SEC teleconference. “The more they play, the better they get, typically. This is a developmental game. Mike’s worked hard at his craft, he’s got great self-awareness, and he’s attacked everything since the end of last season. Really, since January, here are eight and a half months into it, and he’s really worked on the basics.
“I think he’s really grown when it comes to understanding offense and defense. He’s picked up the offense really well, and he’s got a lot of dynamic abilities. A tremendous athlete that’s also got great arm talent, and he’s hungry and driven and has a great work ethic. So he’s a better version of himself in really every category from where he was a year ago, like you’d expect from every player on your roster.”
And for Hawkins, he has to perform well because if he does during this streak without Mateer, he will have the opportunity to flip the script on his college football career.
Hawkins can prove he deserves to be Oklahoma’s heir apparent to Mateer
Mateer has proven this year that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, maybe even the best. There is a great chance that this guy goes in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, especially after his performance against the Auburn Tigers, where he completed 15 of his last 16 passes with a broken thumb on his throwing hand, to win the game. That’s what we call gutsy, and it’s something NFL scouts noticed.
As for Hawkins and the Sooners, when Mateer leaves, they won’t have an immediate answer at the QB position. They could go the route of starting true freshman Bowe Bentley, but he may not be ready for that. Does Hawkins transfer somewhere he can play, or is he the next guy in line? Hawkins is getting a huge opportunity with Mateer out, one that I’m not sure anyone would have guessed would come, to prove he deserves to inherit the position in 2026.
If Hawkins can hold the Sooners in a position to still make the postseason, I think it’s fair to say Brent Venables and Ben Arbuckle may give him a shot as the full-time starter in 2026. The timeline for when Mateer will return is a bit cloudy at the moment, with several different reports floating around. But, there is a belief that he will be back for the Red River Rivalry against the Texas Longhorns. If that doesn’t happen, Hawkins playing well and winning games against Kent State and Texas would prove he may be ready for that responsibility in 2026.
But only time will tell, and the Sooners sure are excited about the opportunity Hawkins is getting.
Oklahoma Sooners News
Brent Venables gushes over quarterback depth of Oklahoma Sooners, ‘We’re better than we were at any time a year ago’
After a disastrous 2024 season under center thanks to Jackson Arnold, Brent Venables and new Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle made it a point to attack the position in the transfer portal to transform the position. They added their starter in top-tier transfer John Mateer, whom Venables has openly praised. At SEC Media Days, […]
