West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. continues to emerge as one of the biggest stars in the Big 12, and on Tuesday he added another national honor to his growing résumé. Hawkins was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, while Kentucky defensive back Jordan Castell earned the defensive award.
For Big 12 fans, the spotlight belongs squarely to Hawkins.
The redshirt sophomore delivered one of the most impressive performances in college football this season during West Virginia’s thrilling 45-42 victory over Cincinnati. Hawkins threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns while adding 77 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. In the process, he became the first quarterback in Mountaineer history to record at least 450 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in the same game.
Michael Hawkins’ 2026 Campaign
The performance further strengthened Hawkins’ case as one of the conference’s most dynamic players. Despite West Virginia sitting at 4-3 overall, Hawkins has been carrying the Mountaineers’ offense throughout the season. He currently leads all FBS quarterbacks with 749 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat ability that has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses
What’s even more impressive is that this marks the second time Hawkins has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors this season. He previously claimed the award in September after a breakout performance against Virginia, highlighting just how quickly he has become one of the nation’s most electrifying quarterbacks.
As the Big 12 race heads into the second half of the season, Hawkins has become must-watch television every weekend. West Virginia may still have work to do in the conference standings, but with Hawkins under center, the Mountaineers are capable of putting up points against anyone. And after another record-setting performance, the rest of college football is starting to take notice.
