West Virginia’s backfield pairing of Mike Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook has been drawing the kind of comparisons that come with serious expectations, and Cook’s future may soon become just as important as his production on the field.
Since both players signed, the talk around Morgantown has linked Hawkins and Cook to Pat White and Steve Slaton. That’s a heavy frame to put on two newcomers, but they’ve backed it up. Hawkins has become the only quarterback in the country with 1,500+ passing yards and 700+ rushing yards, while Cook sits fifth nationally in rushing with 833 yards.
Hawkins still has two years of eligibility beyond this season. Cook, though, has one more year available if he decides that’s the route he wants to take.
Asked Tuesday about the possibility, he kept his answer short: “I mean, I’ve thought about it, but I really haven’t, like got too much into it. I really want to see how this year goes.
Just focus on this year.”
For now, the NFL picture remains unsettled. It’s hard to know exactly where Cook stands in the draft conversation this early, especially with plenty of football still left. Still, he could land as a day-three selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning rounds 4-7 are in play.
The concerns from the pro side are easy to see. Cook has put together a productive two-year stretch, but evaluators are likely to point at his age, the mileage on his legs and the lack of breakaway speed. He has 598 career carries and counting, and those totals matter when teams start weighing value.
That leaves West Virginia with a real decision to make, because a return could make financial sense for both sides. The program could potentially build an offer that stacks up with, or even tops, what Cook might make as a rookie. And in an era when NFL teams hesitate to commit major money to running backs, a player with Cook’s kind of impact can still be worth the investment, especially in this offense.
Keeping Hawkins and Cook would not be the whole story, but it would change the ceiling in a big way. If West Virginia holds onto both, the Mountaineers could go into the 2027 season with legitimate Big 12 and College Football Playoff hopes. Add a defense that can simply be competitive, and the picture gets even brighter.
In Other News...
Former Oklahoma QBs Are Creating An Uncomfortable Reminder For Sooners Fans
Michael Hawkins has given West Virginia a jolt this season, and for anyone watching from Norman, there is a familiar sting to the way he has done it. The former Oklahoma quarterback has been productive as a passer and as a runner, even leading the nation in rushing touchdowns, while helping the Mountaineers stay in the thick of things at 4-3.
The reminder gets a little more uncomfortable when Jackson Arnold enters the picture. Another former Sooners quarterback, Arnold has also found his footing at UNLV with solid work through the air and on the ground, and he has played a part in the Rebels' recent success as well. For Oklahoma fans, seeing both quarterbacks move on and win elsewhere is the kind of storyline that lingers long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Is Bracing For A Very Different WVU Defense
TCU is spending the week preparing for a West Virginia team that looks different on both sides of the ball than what the Horned Frogs may have seen earlier this season. In his pregame press conference, Sonny Dykes pointed to a Mountaineers offense that can push the tempo, threaten defenses on the ground and through the air, and force opponents to play fast without much breathing room.
What has also caught TCUs attention is the shape of West Virginias defense. Dykes described it as young, but still physical and aggressive, the kind of unit that can create problems even when the numbers have not always shown it consistently. Michael Hawkins Jr. also came up as a player the Frogs will have to account for, with Dykes calling him athletic and difficult to defend, another reminder that this matchup comes with more moving parts than a simple glance at the standings might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Faces A Familiar Threat In A Game It Must Exploit
West Virginia finally broke through last week with a win over Cincinnati, and it did so with an offense that has become a lot more dangerous when quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is involved. His dual-threat ability has given the Mountaineers a different kind of rhythm, and running back Cam Cook, a transfer with stops at TCU and Jacksonville State, has added another layer by giving the ground game more punch.
The problem is that the defense has not been able to match the offensive uptick. West Virginia sits last in the Big 12 in both scoring defense and total defense, which leaves little margin for error no matter how well Hawkins and Cook are playing. For a team trying to build on a much-needed win, that imbalance is the real issue hanging over the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]