The quarterback picture at West Virginia has a clear headline for now: Oklahoma transfer Mike Hawkins Jr. is the guy. That part isn’t up for debate. The more interesting question is what this room looks like once Hawkins’ run is over, because the Mountaineers may already have the makings of something pretty solid behind him.
Scotty Fox Jr. is back as a sophomore after starting a handful of games, and the belief around him is straightforward - he has the tools to become a quality Power Four starter. But he’s not the only name worth tracking. WVU is also high on three true freshmen in Jyron Hughley, Wyatt Walker Brown, and John Johnson III.
Of that group, Hughley stands out as the one who could make the biggest climb. It wouldn’t be a shock if he finishes the season as the No. 3 quarterback and puts himself in position to become the backup in 2027, especially if Hawkins performs well enough to push Fox toward a transfer.
If Fox stays, that only strengthens the long-term outlook. WVU would still be sitting on a promising quarterback pipeline, and by the time Hawkins is done, the staff could be choosing between a pair of very interesting options to take over the offense. Even if one of the current freshmen leaves, the Mountaineers would still have another one in the mix, along with class of 2027 commit Andre Phillip II, who is also viewed as a talented prospect.
Fox, for his part, is still seen as someone who can eventually take over as QB1 down the road.
Hughley’s appeal starts with what he can do in the read/RPO game, and the staff is very comfortable with him there. In his senior season at Cardinal Newman High School in Florida, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 19 times. That showed up again during his first spring at WVU, where he flashed the ability to make the correct read and create explosive plays with his legs when the play was there.
Max Brown could hold the No. 3 spot for much of the season, but because it’s his final year, the staff may naturally start pouring more of its developmental focus into Hughley as the year goes on. That could mean more practice reps later in the season.
None of it will happen automatically. Hughley will have to earn every bit of it, and the biggest area for growth is the passing game.
He needs more consistency there, and adding strength to his lean frame will matter too. The arm has to get stronger, but so does the lower body, which plays a major role in generating deep-ball power.
By late October or early November, he should be in a much better physical place.
The bottom line is that Hughley is closer to Fox and Max Brown than most people think.
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Ryan Carretta Gives Pitt Fans A Reason To Believe Up Front
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For a Pitt program that is always looking to steady itself in the trenches, the nod gives fans another reason to pay attention up front. The watch list was built with help from Pro Football Focus, using school nominations and performance data, so Carrettas inclusion suggests he has already done enough to get noticed before the season even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]