Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker keeps stacking up preseason recognition, and the latest honor puts him on the radar for one of college football’s top quarterback prizes.
Mestemaker was named Thursday to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List, adding another line to a preseason résumé that already includes preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and watch list spots for the Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
The Oklahoma State transfer from North Texas is one of only six sophomores and 30 total FBS players on the Davey O'Brien watch list, which goes to the nation’s best college quarterback each year.
His 2025 season at North Texas was loaded with hardware. Mestemaker won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s best walk-on, was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors and was a finalist for both the Manning Award and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
The production matched the awards. Mestemaker finished as the NCAA FBS statistical leader in passing yards with 4,379, passing yards per game at 312.8, total offense at 4,468 and yards per pass attempt at 9.46.
He also ranked No. 2 nationally in passing touchdowns with 34, No. 3 in points responsible for with 240, No. 4 in passing efficiency at 168.7, No. 4 in total offense per game at 319.1, No. 7 in yards per completion at 13.73, No. 7 in points responsible for per game at 17.1, No. 10 in completions per game at 22.79 and No. 14 in completion percentage at 68.9. He led the country in completions of at least 10 yards with 168, 20 yards with 67, 50 yards with 11, 60 yards with 8 and 70 yards with 5.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced Nov. 10, with semifinalists coming Nov. 17. The three finalists are set for Nov. 24, and the winner will be revealed live on ESPN on Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
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