Mike Hawkins Jr. is in the middle of a huge first season as West Virginia’s starting quarterback, and the results have pushed him into at least some Heisman Trophy discussion.
That attention was part of the setup for a recent appearance on the actual Heisman Trophy podcast, where Hawkins talked about his season and his experience at WVU so far. During the interview, he was asked to name the best player he has ever shared a field with. He didn’t have to look far.
“I would probably say Cam Cook right now. He’s unreal.
He doesn’t go down. I don’t think I’ve seen one guy tackle him by himself.
It’s once in a lifetime you play with him, so it’s crazy. When we first got here, I just kind of seen the way he works and goes about his business.
It’s really detailed, but obviously when the games started, that’s kind of when you realize you have someone back there that you can rely on and get the ball in his hands, and he’s going to make it happen. He’s definitely someone I love being by my side.”
Cook has been every bit the kind of back Hawkins described. He has piled up 649 yards after contact this season, a number that stands out even more when stacked against West Virginia’s leading rusher, Diore Hubbard, who had 649 total yards for the entire season.
He has also built his reputation on creating yardage when blocking breaks down, and offensive line coach Rick Trickett has said it before: "he always makes the first guy miss," which tends to lead to plenty of good things.
There are still four games remaining, but West Virginia would surely love to keep both Hawkins and Cook around in Mountaineer uniforms in 2027. That means the program may have to deal with other teams trying to pull Hawkins into the transfer portal, while also making a strong enough offer to keep Cook from heading to the NFL next spring.
If the Mountaineers can bring that duo back next season, they would have a real shot at the College Football Playoff. That is, of course, assuming the defense gets fixed.
In Other News...
WVUs Offense Has Two Stars But One Big Stretch-Run Concern
West Virginias offense has leaned heavily on a pair of stars through the bye week, and the numbers help explain why the unit has looked so dangerous at times. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. has played at an elite level, while running back Cam Cook has been one of the most productive backs in the country, ranking third nationally in rushing yards. The rest of the offense has been a mixed bag by comparison, with the articles grades and snap counts showing a group that has delivered enough support to keep the Mountaineers moving, but not always with the same week-to-week consistency.
The stretch run will be about whether West Virginia can get more from the pieces around those two difference-makers. The bye week gives the staff a chance to reset, evaluate where the offense has been strong and where the weak spots have shown up, and then decide what changes might help as the season resumes. For a team with obvious firepower at quarterback and running back, the bigger question is whether the supporting cast can rise enough to keep the offense from becoming too dependent on Hawkins and Cook. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs November Gauntlet Will Decide Whether This Season Becomes More
West Virginias path to a bigger finish this season is about to get a lot clearer, and a lot harder. At 5-3, the Mountaineers have put themselves in position to make the final month matter, but the schedule ahead brings three ranked opponents into the mix and leaves little room for a slip if they want to turn a solid season into something more meaningful.
ESPNs FPI matchup predictor does not exactly make the road look inviting in the final four games, and the numbers reflect what the eye test already suggests about the challenges ahead. The good news for West Virginia is that the season is still sitting on a knifes edge, which means November can still push this group toward a strong finish. The bad news is that the margin for error shrinks quickly when the opposition gets this steep. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia May Have A Star QB It Can't Take For Granted
Mike Hawkins Jr. has been one of the biggest reasons West Virginias offense has looked dangerous this fall. The Mountaineers quarterback is drawing national attention for production that goes well beyond the box score, sitting ninth among quarterbacks in PFF grades while piling up efficiency marks that separate the truly productive passers from the merely busy ones.
Hawkins has also given West Virginia a rare blend of explosiveness and restraint, leading the nation in rushing touchdowns while ranking near the top in yards per completion and adjusted yards per pass attempt. The deeper concern for the Mountaineers is how much of that growth has come from a quarterback who is making difficult throws, creating chunk plays and limiting mistakes despite a completion rate shaped by aggressive downfield attempts and a few too many drops around him. [Read more 🡒]