MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — There are some things you just don’t hear every day when it comes to Pat White. One of them? Him saying someone might be faster than he was. But that’s exactly what came out on a recent episode of 3 Guys Before the Game, and if you’re a West Virginia fan, it should absolutely grab your attention. Talking about new Mountaineer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., White didn’t hold back: “He’s got an incredible football IQ, he’s in the film room, they like a lot of things about him. Pat White never admits anyone is faster than him, but he said that Hawkins is faster than he was when he played.” Yeah… read that again.
Pat White says Michael Hawkins is faster than him? Hoppy doesn’t buy it.
Only one solution: Pat White vs. Michael Hawkins vs. Rasheed Marshall
40 yards. One track. One clock. One truth. Legends. New Kid. Bragging rights. #WVU #HailWV #PatWhite #MichaelHawkins #Rasheed… pic.twitter.com/scotkORw38
— 3 Guys Before the Game (@3Guys__) April 23, 2026
That’s not just any compliment. That’s coming from one of the greatest players to ever put on the old gold and blue at West Virginia Mountaineers football. White wasn’t just fast, he was electric. He led WVU to four straight bowl wins, finished his career with over 10,000 total yards, and went 35–8 as a starter. He redefined what the quarterback position looked like in Morgantown and became the face of one of the most explosive eras in program history. So when he says someone might have more juice than he did… you listen.
Now enter Hawkins, the Oklahoma transfer who is walking into a quarterback room that already has some intrigue. At Oklahoma Sooners football last season, Hawkins showed flashes of exactly why he was such a highly touted recruit. He threw for over 1,200 yards with 9 touchdowns and added another 400-plus yards on the ground with 5 rushing scores. Dynamic. Playmaker. The kind of guy who can turn a broken play into six in a blink.
But nothing is being handed to him. Not with Scotty Fox Jr. still in the mix. Fox returns with experience in the system and has the trust of the locker room, so this is going to be a real competition heading into the season. And honestly, that’s exactly what you want.
Still, it’s hard not to circle back to what White said. Because if the greatest dual-threat quarterback in WVU history is telling you this kid is faster than he was… that’s not hype. That’s a warning to the rest of the Big 12.
