North Texas Star QB Drew Mestemaker Expected to Enter Transfer Portal After Breakout Season
Drew Mestemaker’s rise from walk-on to FBS passing leader is the kind of story college football fans live for. Now, after lighting up defenses all season and rewriting the North Texas record books, the redshirt freshman quarterback is expected to enter the transfer portal following the Mean Green’s bowl game, according to two school sources.
While Mestemaker hasn’t made a final decision just yet, the expectation is that he’ll explore his options once the portal officially opens on January 2. He’s still set to suit up for North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl on December 27, when the Mean Green take on San Diego State.
But after that? All signs point toward one of the biggest names in the 2025 college football season hitting the open market.
From Backup to Burlsworth
Mestemaker’s journey has been anything but typical. He wasn’t even a full-time starter in high school, spending his senior year at Vandegrift High in Austin backing up Deuce Adams, now at Louisville. Fast forward a few years, and he’s the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, a first-team all-conference selection, and the winner of the Burlsworth Award - given to the nation’s top player who began their career as a walk-on.
His breakout moment came last December in the First Responder Bowl, where he threw for 393 yards in his first college start. That performance set the stage for a monster 2025 season.
Mestemaker beat out Miami transfer Reese Poffenbarger for the starting job and never looked back. He threw for 4,129 yards and 31 touchdowns, led North Texas to an 11-2 record, and helped the Mean Green reach the American Conference title game.
Oh, and he set a conference record with 608 passing yards in a 54-20 win over Charlotte in October - a performance that put him squarely on the national radar.
A Hot Commodity in the Portal
With multiple years of eligibility remaining and a live arm that’s turned heads across the country, Mestemaker is expected to be one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the transfer portal. Power 4 programs in need of a proven passer will be lining up, and the offers could be substantial - we’re talking seven-figure NIL deals, possibly even more.
One SEC team reportedly had Mestemaker as its top portal target back in October. And with the quarterback market heating up - Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby is believed to be fielding offers near $4 million annually - there’s no telling how high the bidding could go for a player of Mestemaker’s caliber.
Could He Follow His Former Coach?
One potential landing spot that’s already generating buzz is Oklahoma State. That’s where Eric Morris - the coach who brought Mestemaker to North Texas and helped develop him into a star - just took over. Morris has brought several key staff members with him, including general manager Raj Murti, chief of staff Rolando Surita, and defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity.
Morris also plans to call plays at Oklahoma State, just as he did at North Texas. That continuity could be appealing for Mestemaker, who thrived in Morris’ system. Their relationship goes back years, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Mestemaker decided to reunite with the coach who believed in him from the start.
Still, it’s far from a done deal. Mestemaker is on just about every major program’s radar, and with his résumé and upside, he’ll have plenty of options.
North Texas even tried to keep him - Murti and NIL general manager Steve Keasler had hoped to raise enough money to make a seven-figure offer to retain their star QB. But the reality is, the quarterback market is exploding, and Power 4 programs have the resources - and the need - to make aggressive plays for elite talent.
What’s Next
For now, Mestemaker’s focus remains on finishing what he started at North Texas. He’ll lead the Mean Green into the New Mexico Bowl later this month, looking to cap off a storybook season with one more win.
After that, the spotlight shifts to the transfer portal - and all eyes will be on one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in recent memory. From walk-on to record-breaker, Mestemaker’s next chapter is about to begin. And wherever he lands, expect fireworks.