MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — The quarterback battle may continue publicly throughout fall camp, but according to a source within the West Virginia football program, Michael Hawkins Jr. is expected to be the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback when WVU opens the season against Coastal Carolina on September 5.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has consistently maintained that there is a competition between Hawkins and Scotty Fox, and based on his recent comments, it’s easy to see why. Rodriguez has repeatedly praised both quarterbacks throughout the offseason and believes the competition has elevated the play of each player.
“He’s a talented freshman that got some really good experience, and we are really excited for him,” Rodriguez said of Fox. “But we wanted somebody that could compete with Scotty. And we were thinking about taking two transfers because we lost three in the portal. But we got Mike Hawkins [from Oklahoma], and I had seen him play a little bit, and there was some body of work to judge him on, but also kind of thinking, I think this guy, he’s got an edge to him, wanting to prove himself kind of deal. And he’s got all the skill set that we need. And so he came here, and then he’s been everything we thought and then some. And then Scotty’s [played well], so the competition between both of those guys has elevated … to the point where I feel we’ve got two guys right now that I would jump out there to be a starting quarterback and be good with.”
While Rodriguez may continue to call it a battle, a source tells Voice of Morgantown that Hawkins will be the guy heading into Week 1. Rodriguez has said numerous times throughout the summer that Hawkins is “everything we thought he would be and then some.” Rodriguez has also praised his quarterback’s work ethic on the field, in the weight room and film sessions.
SOURCE: Michael Hawkins, Jr. will be the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers against Coastal Carolina in Week 1 on September 5th. #WVU
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) June 23, 2026
The former Oklahoma quarterback arrives in Morgantown with valuable experience at the Power Four level. Last season with the Sooners, Hawkins appeared in 10 games and made five starts, throwing for 1,016 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions while completing nearly 58 percent of his passes. He also added over 250 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, showcasing the dual-threat ability that made him one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects coming out of high school.
Fox also showed plenty of promise in limited action as a true freshman. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. His development throughout the spring and summer has reportedly impressed the coaching staff and positioned him as a legitimate contender for the future of the program.
The biggest difference between the two quarterbacks is experience, but Hawkins also brings a skill set that West Virginia simply didn’t have a year ago. His ability to create explosive plays with both his arm and his legs makes him a perfect fit for Rodriguez’s offense. Hawkins is dangerous when plays break down, can extend drives with his mobility, and possesses the speed to turn designed quarterback runs into chunk gains. Those traits add another dimension to the Mountaineer offense and force defenses to account for him on every snap.
That’s not a knock on Fox. In fact, many within the program remain extremely high on his long-term future. But when you’re trying to win games immediately in Year One under Rich Rodriguez, experience matters. Hawkins has already faced SEC defenses, started games on major stages, and proven he can operate at the highest level of college football.
The good news for West Virginia is that Rodriguez appears confident in both quarterbacks. The competition has reportedly made each player better, and the Mountaineers feel they have two capable options leading the offense.
Still, if the season started today, a source within the program says Michael Hawkins Jr. would be the quarterback taking the first snap against Coastal Carolina. And if Hawkins performs the way many inside the program believe he can, he could provide the spark that helps usher in a new era of West Virginia football under Rich Rodriguez.
