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Noted QB Loving Super Bowl Winning Coach Gushes Over Michael Hawkins
Those unfamiliar with Michael Hawkins learned about West Virginia’s dual-threat quarterback when he led the Mountaineers to a signature win over Virginia in Charlotte.
From that point on, Hawkins has been stacking individual accolades and receiving praise for all over the country. He’s arrived on the national scene and it’s now his job to make sure he stays there.
One prominent voice who was impressed with Hawkins is Super Bowl winning head coach Jon Gruden, a noted long appreciator of quarterbacks, and now of Barstool Sports. He awarded Hawkins one of his helmet stickers for Week 3.
“We’re starting at West Virginia with Michael Hawkins. Here’s a redshirt sophomore that transfers to West Virginia from Oklahoma. You know, West Virginia only won four games last year, and head coach Rich Rodriguez goes with Hawkins to help revive the football program at West Virginia,” said Gruden while setting up his thoughts about Hawkins’ game.
“And Hawkins looks like a dual-threat beast. Against 25th-ranked Virginia, he accumulates five touchdowns. He throws for 190 and two touchdowns, and he runs for 123 yards and three more. One of them, he looked like a… I don’t know what… jumping over two Virginia Cavaliers. Five touchdowns and West Virginia is 3-0 for the first time since 2018. Michael Hawkins. He’s poised, he’s fearless, and he’s clutch, and the Mountaineers are fun to watch.”
Hawkins exceeded 100 yards passing and rushing for the third-straight game. And in Charlotte, he completed 10-of-17 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns through the air and then added 123 yards on 18 carries and three more scores on the ground as WVU defeated Virginia 38-27. He was then rewarded for his big game by being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and even the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week among other forms of recognition.
Find more coverage of Michael Hawkins and the WVU football program and updates from the game at WV Sports Now.
jackson five
September 23, 2026 at 7:04 pm
I SERIOUSLY DON’T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY IN WV TO KEEP HIM AFTERTHIS YR UNLESS LAST SAT . WAS A ONE IN A MILLION PERFORMANCE BY MICHAEL,,
IT’S A SHAME,, I THINK HE COULD GO FOR 5 MILLION DOLLARS AND WVU JUST DONT HAVE THT MUCH MONEY FOR ONE PLAYER,, AND IN MICHAEL KEEPS IT UP, YES HE WILL BE WORTH THAT MUCH EASILY IN THE BIG TEN OR SEC..