Caleb Hawkins came back to Oklahoma State last offseason with more than football in mind. For the Shawnee native, the move from North Texas to Stillwater felt like a return to familiar ground, especially with Rock Creek High School not far away.
Now, Hawkins may be in position to help the Cowboys in a different way.
Oklahoma State hosted Class of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 prospects for Saturday’s UCF game, according to 247 Sports and other outlets. One of the Class of 2027 visitors was Tyson Hawkins, an uncommitted athlete from Rock Creek High School and Caleb’s younger brother.
Tyson Hawkins doesn’t come with a star rating, just as Caleb didn’t when he was coming out of high school. That didn’t stop Caleb from developing into one of the Cowboys’ most important players. He leads Oklahoma State in rushing with 524 yards and two touchdowns, and he has the kind of upside that could make him one of the best running backs in the country over the next few seasons.
That background matters because head coach Eric Morris has made his stance on recruiting clear: the stars don’t drive the evaluation. The player does. Caleb Hawkins could certainly help open the door for Tyson, but the younger Hawkins also has traits that would fit what Morris wants.
At 6-1 and 160 pounds, Tyson is listed as an athlete, and Rock Creek uses him all over the field. He plays wide receiver, defensive back and returner, which gives him the kind of versatility that makes sense in Morris’ Air Raid system.
Tyson also put his production on display early this season. On his social feed, he posted film from his first three games showing 12 catches for 374 yards and two touchdowns, 20 carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns, 478 all-purpose yards, 23 tackles, two tackles for loss and three pass breakups.
That multi-use profile is exactly the sort of thing Morris’ staff has valued. It played a part in their push to secure freshman running back KD Jones, who can work at running back, receiver and on kick returns. Jones has not seen much action this season, but his skill set points to what the Cowboys want down the road.
And that is what makes the Hawkins connection interesting. A Cowboys offense with both brothers in the mix would be a tempting thought for 2027.
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Oklahoma State Homecoming Clash With Colorado Carries One Frustrating Unknown
Oklahoma State already knows one of its biggest October stages in 2026, with the Big 12 locking in the Cowboys Top 25 meeting with Houston for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Fox. Around that, the league has begun to piece together Week 8, and the conference slate already carries the feel of a busy one for teams trying to sort out fall visibility, television windows and game-day rhythms.
What remains hanging over Stillwater is the homecoming date with Colorado, a matchup that has enough profile to draw attention but not enough certainty yet to settle the calendar. Seven Big 12 games in that week are sitting on six-day holds and will be finalized Sunday, leaving Oklahoma State and its fans waiting a little longer for the exact time and network that will frame the Cowboys visit from the Buffaloes. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Lutz Saw The Same Oklahoma State Problem He Hates
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Oklahoma State did have some scoring balance, putting five players in double figures and getting 18 points from freshman Anthony Felesi. But New Mexicos perimeter shooting and scoring punch kept the Cowboys chasing the game, and Lutz was left with the kind of defensive breakdowns he clearly does not want to see carry over into the real thing. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States Early Success Keeps Pointing Back To Two Standouts
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The bigger picture for the Cowboys is just as encouraging. Wesloski and Keltner have each collected three weekly awards this season, the most of any conference player, and Oklahoma State now owns 11 Big 12 weekly honors overall, tops in the league. For a team getting early traction, the constant refrain keeps coming back to the same two names. [Read more 🡒]