West Virginia has found a quarterback who looks comfortable doing just about everything.
Through three games, Mike Hawkins Jr. has stacked up 26 completions on 38 attempts for 477 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He has been just as dangerous on the ground, adding 322 rushing yards and six scores on 44 carries. That kind of production has not only matched the buzz around him - it has pushed him to the top of Pro Football Focus’s quarterback grades nationally.
Hawkins currently sits first in PFF’s rankings at 93.52, ahead of Anthony Colandrea of Nebraska at 93.13, Gunner Stockton of Georgia at 92.84, CJ Carr of Notre Dame at 92.85, Kalieb Osborne of UConn at 92.56, Darian Mensah of Miami FL at 92.37, Michael Van Buren Jr. of South Florida at 91.58, Rocco Becht of Penn State at 91.19, Malachi Singleton of Appalachian State at 91.0, and Devon Dampier of Utah at 90.2.
The downfield passing game has been one of the clearest reasons why. Hawkins is 12-for-19 on throws of 10 or more yards, and he leads the country in yards per completion at 18.3. He also tops the Big 12 in passer rating at 217.3 and yards per pass attempt at 12.6.
What stands out most, though, is how he handles chaos. Hawkins has shown a steady presence when the pocket starts to collapse, whether that means standing in and making a throw, escaping to keep the play alive, or simply turning pressure into a run.
Under pressure, he is 8-for-15, which ranks 20th nationally among quarterbacks with at least 15 pressured attempts. Against the blitz, he is 7-for-10.
He has also been making the kind of small, winning plays that keep drives from going off the rails. The ability to avoid sacks, throw the ball away, and preserve field position matters just as much as the highlight runs and deep shots. Those hidden plays, as the source noted, can be the difference between facing third-and-10 and getting buried behind the chains.
For West Virginia fans, that matters. It has been a long time since the quarterback spot felt this settled, and Hawkins has given the Mountaineers exactly that.
In Other News...
WVU's Biggest Home Night In Years Comes With Real Stakes
West Virginia is getting one of those home nights that can define a season, and there is more riding on it than atmosphere alone. Milan Puskar Stadium is set for a major prime-time setting, and the Mountaineers are trying to turn a strong start into something bigger by staying perfect through the opening stretch and putting themselves back into the AP Top 25 conversation.
Rich Rodriguez has pointed to the energy around the program and the value of protecting home field, which makes this one feel less like just another September game and more like a measuring stick. For a team still trying to prove its early momentum is real, a night game in front of that crowd offers a chance to keep building and a reminder that the next step has to happen where West Virginia is supposed to be toughest to beat. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Injury Outlook Suddenly Looks Better Heading Into Oklahoma State
West Virginias injury picture is starting to clear up just in time for a trip to Oklahoma State, and that matters for a team that took a few hits in the recent game against Virginia. Rich Rodriguez said Nick Krahe will be limited in practice but is expected to play, while Jaden Bray is dealing with a hip bruise and should be back soon. The outlook is also encouraging for Ball, who is expected to play after being knocked out, giving the Mountaineers a little more stability as they try to manage the week.
There is even more room for optimism at running back, where Martavious Boswell and Talley are expected to be available. On the perimeter, Prince Strachan should see his role grow after being used sparingly last week, which could give West Virginia another option as it heads into a matchup that can use every healthy body it can get. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Knows Exactly What Awaits West Virginia Under The Lights
Oklahoma State is heading into one of the more charged environments in the Big 12, with Eric Morris already framing the trip to Morgantown as the kind of test that can turn a game on its head after dark. Morris had plenty of respect for what Rich Rodriguez is building at West Virginia, and he singled out quarterback Mike Hawkins as a dynamic presence in an offense that has grown noticeably since last season. For the Mountaineers, that is the sort of public praise that usually comes with a warning label.
The challenge for the Cowboys, Morris said, is not just the crowd or the setting, but staying clean with communication and tackling against a run game that can punish any lapse. West Virginia has shown enough improvement to make opponents prepare differently, and under the lights at home the margin for error gets even thinner. It is the kind of matchup where the details matter from the first snap, and Oklahoma State clearly knows it is walking into a place that rewards precision more than bravado. [Read more 🡒]