Dude, you gotta see what Michael Hawkins is doing out in West Virginia. This kid isn’t just playing well, he’s absolutely tearing it up, especially on the ground. Last week alone, the sophomore signal caller dropped 464 passing yards and three touchdowns, then added another 77 yards and two scores rushing in West Virginia’s wild 45-42 win over Cincinnati. And get this, he led the drive for the game-winning field goal in the final seconds. That’s clutch.
Hawkins is Running Wild and Climbing the Charts
Hawkins’s season numbers are just insane for a quarterback. He’s passed for 1,519 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception, which is solid, but it’s his rushing that’s blowing minds. He’s piled up 749 rushing yards and a staggering 14 scores on the ground. Think about that: he leads the entire nation in rushing touchdowns and is tenth nationally in rushing yards. This isn’t a fluke either, he’s hit at least 100 rushing yards in four of his seven games this season. He’s gone from being John Mateer’s backup at Oklahoma last season, after Mateer came in with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, to now being one of the top players in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are sitting at 4-3, looking good for a bowl game, and Hawkins is the main reason why. Seriously, 541 total yards and five total touchdowns against Cincinnati on their homecoming? And he led a 99-yard drive for the walk-off win! Unbelievable.
Jackson Arnold’s Rebel Resurrection and Oklahoma’s QB Woes
As if that wasn’t enough, another former Oklahoma quarterback, Jackson Arnold, is finding his rhythm, too. Remember him? The former five-star guy who couldn’t quite make it stick at Oklahoma, started in 2024, lost his job to Hawkins, then got it back before transferring? He had a mediocre season at Auburn last year, but now he’s at UNLV, and it’s working out. Arnold has passed for 1,386 yards and 10 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season. Plus, he’s added 408 rushing yards and another six scores. Last week, he threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 78 yards and another score, helping UNLV to a 41-31 win over Air Force. Just like the Mountaineers, the Rebels are also 4-3. Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma, John Mateer is struggling, and whispers are getting louder. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and offensive line coach Bedenbaugh are definitely feeling the heat with that offense needing a fix.
For West Virginia, their 4-3 record means every game matters now as they push for a bowl bid. UNLV is in the same boat, also at 4-3, looking to make some noise. Both these guys are lighting it up, proving they just needed the right spot to shine.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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