Drew Mestemaker’s preseason recognition keeps piling up, and now the Oklahoma State quarterback has landed on another major national watch list.
On Thursday, Mestemaker was one of 30 players named to the Davey O’Brien Watch List, the group tied to the award given to college football’s best quarterback. It adds to a growing list of preseason honors for Mestemaker, who has already been included on the Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watchlists.
He is one of six Big 12 quarterbacks on the list, alongside Bear Bachmeier of BYU, Alonza Barnett III of UCF, Devon Dampier of Utah, Noah Fifita of Arizona and Conner Weigman of Houston.
The watch list also includes just six sophomores among the 30 names, and Mestemaker is one of them. The others are Micah Alejado of Hawaii, Bachmeier of BYU, Brad Jackson of Texas State, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele of Cal and Julian Sayin of Ohio State.
Mestemaker’s rise has been rapid. In his first season as a college - or even high school - starter, he led the country in passing yards last season with 4,379. He also finished first nationally in passing yards per game at 312.8, completions of at least 10 yards with 168, completions of at least 20 yards with 67, completions of at least 50 yards with 11, completions of at least 60 yards with 8 and completions of at least 70 yards with 5.
He threw for at least 200 yards in all 14 of UNT’s games, topped 300 yards five times and delivered a season-high 608 yards in the Mean Green’s win against Charlotte.
Those numbers helped him collect a strong stack of postseason hardware: the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best walk-on, the American Offensive Player of the Year award and freshman All-American honors.
Mestemaker transferred to Oklahoma State this offseason after following coach Eric Morris from UNT to Stillwater, and he has already been named the Big 12’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
The Davey O’Brien winner will be announced on ESPN on Dec. 11.
The Class of 2026 will be revealed on Nov. 10, the semifinalists on Nov. 17 and the three finalists on Nov. 24.
No OSU quarterback has ever won the Davey O’Brien. Recent winners include Fernando Mendoza in 2025, Cam Ward in 2024 and Jayden Daniels in 2023.
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