Two wildly different quarterbacks, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins, crashed the Heisman Watch top contenders list this week, and the college football world is buzzing. These guys are not just quietly sliding onto the radar, they are making noise with their play, proving to everyone they belong in the conversation for college football’s most prestigious award.
Mestemaker’s High-Flying Heisman Moment
First up, let’s talk about Drew Mestemaker. This 6-foot-3 traditional pocket passer from Oklahoma State, who transferred in from North Texas, has led the Cowboys to a solid 5-2 record. Yeah, he had a rough start in a loss to Tulsa, but talk about bouncing back! He spearheaded an upset win over Oregon, which is no small feat. What’s even crazier? He has thrown for at least 300 yards in six straight games. SIX! That’s consistency you can build an entire season around. On Saturday, he tossed four touchdown passes in a dominant 57-24 win over Colorado.
But don’t let the “traditional pocket passer” tag fool you. Mestemaker is deceptively nimble. He ran for 109 yards against Oregon, including a mind-blowing 75-yard run on the first play of the game. That’s the longest ever for an Oklahoma State quarterback, by the way. His Heisman moment against the Ducks was pure highlight reel material: a leaping 10-yard touchdown where he took off from the 3-yard line, hurdled one defender, got flipped by another, and still landed in the end zone. The dude FLEW. If that isn’t a statement, I don’t know what is.
Hawkins: A Rushing Dynamo on the Rise
Then you have Michael Hawkins from West Virginia. This Oklahoma transfer is a completely different beast. While Mestemaker has his moments with his feet, Hawkins is a full-blown rushing machine. The guy has racked up 836 yards on the ground and is tied for the FBS lead with an insane 16 rushing touchdowns. Sixteen! He is a constant threat to break tackles and hit the end zone. But he is not just a runner. Hawkins has also thrown for 1,598 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the Mountaineers to a respectable 5-3 record. His last outing was a 24-20 win over TCU, where he passed for 79 yards and a touchdown while also tearing it up on the ground for 87 yards and two more scores. This kid is electric.
It is wild to see two new names shake up the Heisman Watch like this. Some other contenders are still holding strong, like Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree, who both kept their spots after bye weeks. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney also held their ground by absolutely dominating Pitt. But not everyone was so lucky. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dropped out after throwing three interceptions in a loss to Texas, and BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier struggled in a loss to Central Florida a week after a big win over Notre Dame. This race is getting intense!
What’s Next for the New Contenders
Michael Hawkins and the Mountaineers have a bye week coming up, giving him a chance to rest before they hit the road to visit Texas Tech on November 7. You know he is going to be ready to put on another show. Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys will be looking to build on their momentum. With these two quarterbacks making such massive statements, the Heisman race just got a whole lot more interesting. Keep your eyes peeled, because the competition is heating up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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