Coastal Carolina Preparing for ‘Tremendous Challenge’ Despite WVU Mind Games

While Rich Rodriguez may be hesitant to officially announce his starting quarterback, he’s not fooling anyone. As most on the WVU football beat have been saying and has even been reported nationally, Michael Hawkins will lead the charge for the Mountaineers as they open the 2026 season.

In fact, Coastal Carolina head coach Ryan Beard, who is in the midst of making the jump from Missouri State and dealing with a roster overhaul of his own, discussed what Hawkins brings to the table during his weekly press conference.

“Tremendous challenge. Michael Hawkins Jr. is a tremendous talent. He can run the football. He can make every throw on the field. He’s got good vision. Sometimes he’s labeled a runner, but the one thing the young man does such a nice job of is he’s elusive in the pocket and keeps his eyes down the field to make those big, explosive plays,”  he said.

“You’ve got to understand you have to have good rush lanes, and you’ve got to be selective when you pressure. When you pressure, you’ve got less eyes on the quarterback. But going back to him as a runner, you got him, Cam Cook, the freshman that you know is all world. We understand that they’re going to try to run the football.”

Even though Rodriguez has consistently refused to name Hawkins his starter, he did admit his quarterback competition is no longer ongoing earlier in the week. Rodriguez said he and his staff know who the starter will be, although both players are “good enough to win with” in their eyes.

Michael Hawkins:

In two seasons with the Sooners, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound Hawkins completed a total of 91-of-147 passes for 950 yards with six touchdown passes to two interceptions. He added 262 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

A four-star recruit from the 2024 class, Hawkins drew offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Memphis, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina State, North Texas, Penn State, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech and several others out of high school.

WVU quarterback Michael Hawkins takes a snap during the 2026 Gold-Blue Festival’s scrimmage. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

As a dual-threat, Hawkins totaled 4,211 yards and 55 touchdowns to just three interceptions with Emerson High School.

WV Sports Now has been projecting Hawkins to be named the starter due to a higher ceiling and potential, but doesn’t expect any official announcement to be made until an hour before kickoff of WVU’s Week 1 game against Coastal Carolina. The quarterback competition will remain fluid throughout fall camp.

Find more coverage of Rich Rodriguez and the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, Rich Rodriguez explains why Michael Hawkins and Scotty Fox are similar.