Generally speaking, college football fans are not happy about the modern transfer portal. Many have likened it to the Wild West, with universities holding little regard for whatever rules and regulations are in place. However, there’s no denying that it creates opportunities for players who were buried on their previous depth chart.
On Friday morning, On3’s Pete Nakos reported West Virginia is naming Michael Hawkins — an Oklahoma transfer — its starting quarterback. Hawkins, who spent two years with the Sooners, beat out sophomore Scott Fox Jr. for the gig.
Hawkins appeared in 9 games for Oklahoma. He completed 91/147 passes (61.9%) for 950 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in those contests. One of those outings was a 2024 start against Auburn, where he posted 230 total yards and led the Sooners to a 27-21 road victory.
Hawkins’ pedigree and dual-threat abilities give head coach Rich Rodriguez a high-ceiling signal-caller for 2026. Rodriguez, who coached the Mountaineers from 2001-2007, went 4-8 in his return to Morgantown last season.
West Virginia opens the 2026 season with home games versus Coastal Carolina (Sept. 5) and UT-Martin (Sept. 12). You can watch the Mountaineers and Chanticleers do battle in Week 1 at 12:00 p.m. E.T. on TNT.
