Michael Hawkins Jr. is already making Oklahoma’s quarterback conversation look a lot more complicated than the Sooners wanted it to be.
That’s the uncomfortable backdrop in Norman after John Mateer’s rough showing in Oklahoma’s 17-10 loss to Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Plenty of Sooners fans have already started calling for a change, but the problem is that the depth chart behind Mateer doesn’t offer much comfort. And the quarterback who might have been the most intriguing alternative is now in Morgantown.
Hawkins transferred to West Virginia over the offseason after two years at Oklahoma, and his start with the Mountaineers has been about as clean as it gets - at least on the surface. West Virginia is 2-0 with blowout wins over Coastal Carolina and UT Martin, though the real test comes Saturday against No. 25 Virginia.
In those first two games, Hawkins piled up 486 total yards and six touchdowns. As a passer, he hasn’t been asked to do much - he’s finished with fewer than 200 passing yards in both games - but he’s still third in the country in passer rating.
What has stood out most is what he’s done with his legs. Hawkins is averaging 99.6 rushing yards per game, and the production has come fast. He ran for 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in his West Virginia debut against Coastal Carolina, then followed that with 96 yards and two more scores on just six carries against UT Martin.
OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle tried to coax similar mobility out of Mateer against Michigan, using him on 13 carries for 45 yards. If the three sacks are removed, Mateer’s rushing line becomes 10 carries for 68 yards. Against UTEP, though, Mateer had just seven rushing yards on three attempts in a much more controlled plan designed to keep him from taking hits.
The comparison isn’t exact, but it’s hard to ignore the shape of it. Hawkins is the kind of quarterback Arbuckle seems to want Mateer to be: quick, explosive, and able to slip around defenders instead of absorbing contact. Hawkins still hasn’t proven himself as a passer, but Mateer has already shown he isn’t dependable there either.
Even so, Mateer remains Arbuckle’s guy.
That connection matters. Arbuckle and Mateer arrived in Norman together last year after their success at Washington State, and despite the move into SEC play, the Sooners haven’t broken from that partnership. Arbuckle had a chance to see whether Hawkins could lift the offense, but he isn’t expected to move away from Mateer.
A benching also doesn’t look likely anytime soon because Oklahoma’s other options are even shakier. Junior Whitt Newbauer is QB2 after transferring from Mercer in 2025, and he wasn’t brought in with expectations of becoming a meaningful factor for the Sooners. He has shown little to no mobility in his career, even at the FCS level.
Then there’s freshman Bowe Bentley, who looks like the future of the position but has no real game experience. Arbuckle has also said Bentley has had trouble adjusting at times in practice. If the season goes off the rails, Bentley could eventually get reps, but that’s not where Oklahoma is right now.
And that’s what makes Hawkins such a painful what-if for Sooners fans. There were already moments last season when people wanted him over Mateer.
Hawkins never really got a full shot in Norman. He made five starts, and three of them came as a freshman in 2024 against SEC competition that was asking a lot of him.
Still, there were flashes - especially when he pulled the ball down and brought a little Kyler Murray energy with him.
His best chance came in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy. Oklahoma lost with a depleted roster, but Hawkins kept it competitive. He completed 28 of 43 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and he added 61 rushing yards on 17 carries.
After that, Oklahoma went all in on Mateer. Even with Mateer’s struggles and an injury, Hawkins never truly got a real chance from Arbuckle. Once Mateer chose to return this year, Hawkins was out the door.
Now West Virginia gets the benefit of that move, and Oklahoma is left with Mateer and very little behind him. And even if Hawkins were still on the roster, Mateer would still be the clear QB1, at least for now.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Lost Its Defensive Safety Net At The Worst Spot
Kip Lewis injury landed at a brutal moment for Oklahoma, because the Sooners were already trying to settle things on the second level of the defense. The senior linebacker and captain suffered a serious right knee injury against Michigan, and Brent Venables said he is expected to miss some time, leaving a noticeable hole in a group that has been central to the defenses communication and stability.
James Nesta stepped in and handled his snaps well, which at least gave Oklahoma something to build on from the game. But Owen Heinecke and Cole Sullivan were also pushed into linebacker duty with mixed results, and the larger issue now is how the Sooners patch together that spot before the next stretch of games begins to test their depth even more. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Added A Defensive Name Oklahoma Fans Know Too Well
Gary Patterson is back on the sidelines, and Oklahoma fans know the name well enough to understand why it matters. After a three-year break from coaching defense, the newly elected Hall of Fame coach has taken on a defensive coordinator role at USC, a notable return after leaving TCU in 2021 and spending the last stretch as a special assistant at Texas and a consultant at Baylor.
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John Mateer Just Fueled An Oklahoma Quarterback Debate
John Mateers first marquee test in an Oklahoma uniform came with plenty of familiar quarterback flash, but also enough rough edges to keep the Sooners conversation going. In a 17-10 loss to Michigan, Mateer finished 17 of 33 for 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and the bigger issue was how often the offense stalled around him. Accuracy and timing were inconsistent, and Oklahoma never quite found the rhythm it needed as the game tightened.
The offensive line shuffle didnt help, either, with the rebuilt front affecting both the running game and the overall flow of the offense. Mateers fourth-quarter interception came at a particularly costly moment and only sharpened the debate about what Oklahoma wants at quarterback as the season moves forward. For a team trying to define itself against elite opposition, the opener offered just enough promise to keep hope alive and just enough frustration to keep the questions coming. [Read more 🡒]