WVU QB Michael Hawkins Jr. drawing national attention, only improving in Rodriguez’s offense
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. said after Week 2 and U.T. Martin that he hadn't shown his full potential yet. Hawkins showcased what he had to offer when the Mountaineers went out and smacked No. 25 Virginia as a touchdown underdog in Charlotte. Hawkins, who went under the radar as a backup quarterback at Oklahoma a year ago, put the college football world on notice.
Hawkins dazzled with five total touchdowns. He ran for three, which included a leaping 13-yard touchdown for the first score of the game. Hawkins had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. Hawkins proved he can attack through the air as well. He dropped it in the basket for D.J. Epps on a 41-yard pass, setting up a touchdown. Hawkins threw for two touchdowns and completed 10-for-17 passes for 190 yards.
"A couple of plays that Mike made were just phenomenal," Rodriguez said. "Some of the throws he made, the one throw to D.J. down the middle, I mean, the margin for error was like inches. The timing of it was impeccable."
In three games, Hawkins has 11 total touchdowns, 477 yards passing and another 322 on the ground. All that, and Hawkins hasn't thrown an interception. Nationally, Hawkins is first in rushing touchdowns for a quarterback, second in rushing yards per game for a QB, second in QBR and fourth in total points responsible for.
The accolades have started to roll in. Hawkins was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. He was On3's No. 2 impact transfer, according to national insider Pete Nakos.
Oklahoma fans are wishing Hawkins was the team's QB instead of the struggling John Mateer.
Hawkins is doing this all in just three games in Rich Rodriguez's system. He's not a rookie in college football, having played two seasons, but as Rodriguez said, he's a rookie in this system. His performance early has impressed Rodriguez.
"Mike continues to grow," Rodriguez said. "It’s three games into our offense; I think he’s getting more and more comfortable."
Rodriguez has seen the comfort level in a couple of different aspects of his game.
One is not being afraid to take the deep shots, like he did to Epps, and later in the game in the sideline throw to wide receiver Jaden Bray to ice the game. Hawkins has done so without throwing an interception.
He's also figured out when it’s alright to take off and run, and isn't afraid to do so. Rodriguez mentioned a moment in the game when Virginia had the quarterback run covered, but Hawkins took off anyway.
"He didn't hesitate," Rodriguez said. "Took off and scored."
Rodriguez admitted Hawkins, now that more teams know his rushing potential, could see a lot more quarterback spies. But Rodriguez isn't concerned because Hawkins has the speed to outrun most of them.
Hawkins is getting comfortable running the offense, too. Rodriguez talked in the offseason that a part of Hawkins' progression was going to be anticipating the next play and making suggestions on what play would work against what the defense is showing. Hawkins is starting to show that.
"I think that’s the part where I’m really excited for Mike’s growth," Rodriguez said. "It’ll get better as this year of years goes along."
That's the exciting part for Rodriguez. Hawkins is a redshirt sophomore, meaning he should be the quarterback for the next couple of years for the Mountaineers. From what he's done in three games in Rodriguez's system, you can only imagine what Hawkins will look like after two more years.
Rodriguez is hoping to keep him around because bigger programs will certainly be interested in the dual-threat quarterback making noise in college football.
"He’s got three years, and I hope to have him for three years because you can see what he’s going to be after a full year under his belt, and then another year under his belt," Rodriguez said. "Next thing, he won’t just anticipate calls; he’ll be making suggestions off our playlist that he thinks should be great plays. That part of it’s going to be really fun to watch."