West Virginia has leaned into the run game this season, and with Cam Cook and dual-threat quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. in the mix, that approach makes plenty of sense. The Mountaineers don’t air it out often, but when they do, Hawkins has shown he can make the offense dangerous in a hurry.
Through the season so far, Hawkins has completed 12 of 27 passes thrown more than 20 yards downfield for 416 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, that production ranks 15th in deep passing yards, and only six quarterbacks have more “big time throws.”
A lot of that damage has come on seam routes, but Hawkins has handled a wide range of throws despite the limited volume. The idea that he’s simply a runner who can’t pass has taken hold around a team that doesn’t throw much, but Rich Rodriguez pushed back on that view.
“He’s made some really good throws," WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said about Hawkins as a passer. "There was some touch passes he made in the last game where, maybe a month ago, he might have been overthrowing a little bit.
So I think he’s learning who he’s throwing to, but also the intent of the play or the intent of the route. I think he’ll continue to get better, and people are going to force us to throw it.
They can outnumber you and play Cover 0, and if you can’t pitch and catch, you’re going to have a hard time. But Mike can make all the throws, and I think we got a pretty solid group of receivers.”
PFF has credited six of Hawkins’ incompletions to drops, though that number can be a little fuzzy depending on how someone defines a drop. Throwaways also matter when you look at completion percentage, and Hawkins isn’t the kind of quarterback who’ll jam the ball into a crowded window and risk a turnover. If nothing is there and he can’t create with his legs, he’ll move on to the next snap.
Arizona should provide a real test for that passing game. The Wildcats are 11th against the run, which could force West Virginia to throw more, and they bring heat up front with the second-most pressures in the FBS at 78, the second-most hits at 51 and the fifth-most sacks at 17. But if Arizona doesn’t finish the job, it has shown vulnerability to giving up chunk plays through the air.
That puts Hawkins in a spot where he’ll need to be sharp for West Virginia to have a chance. It’s also a chance for him to show, once again, that he’s more than just a running quarterback.
In Other News...
Noah Fifita Faces A Bigger Test Than Arizona Fans Might Think
Arizonas trip to West Virginia brings a familiar face back into the picture for Rich Rodriguez, who once coached in Tucson and now gets a shot at his former program in a Big 12 matchup. It also comes at a time when the Mountaineers are trying to steady themselves after dropping their last two games, while Arizona arrives with some momentum thanks to a three-game winning streak.
The Wildcats have not exactly reached the open date in perfect shape, though, with injuries thinning their group of wide receivers and putting more of the burden on Noah Fifita. The quarterback is set to make his 40th consecutive start against a West Virginia defense that has had its own struggles this season, which turns this into more than just a road test for Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Faces A Season Pressure Point Against Arizona
West Virginia heads into a noon ET matchup at Milan Puskar Stadium with a familiar kind of urgency, this time against Arizona in a Big 12 Conference game that already carries an early-season edge. The Mountaineers are still looking for their first league win after opening conference play with losses, and the setting only adds to the pressure as they try to steady things at home.
The challenge is clear enough: West Virginias defense has struggled nationally, while Arizona brings the conferences top passer into Morgantown. ESPNs Football Power Index gives the Mountaineers a 39.5% shot to win, which only underscores how much has to go right if they are going to flip the script on TNT and get their league season moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Coach Just Put West Virginia's QB-Run Threat In The Spotlight
A 9 a.m. kickoff in Tucson is bringing a fresh layer of attention to West Virginia, and Arizona coach Brent Brennan made clear this one is about much more than an early start. He pointed to the Mountaineers explosive offense, with quarterback Garrett Greene and running back Cam Cook giving the Wildcats a combination of speed and stress points to sort out before the ball is even kicked.
Brennan also singled out West Virginias defensive style while expressing respect for Neal Brown, a nod to a matchup with limited history between the programs. It is only the second meeting for the schools, and the first time Brennan and Brown will meet as head coaches, which adds some unfamiliarity to a game already carrying plenty of intrigue. [Read more 🡒]