WVU Football
Rich Rodriguez Updates Where West Virginia’s QB Battle Stands
For the first time in two months, Rich Rodriguez spoke publicly about his quarterback competition, doing so as part of an interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
In the interview that was released on Tuesday, May 12, Rodriguez offered some insight to his mindset about both Scotty Fox Jr. and Michael Hawkins Jr. and where they stand after the spring practice period.
“Yeah, we knew we were going to lose a couple guys in the portal. Scotty Fox was coming back. He’s a talented freshman that got some really good experience and we are really excited for him. 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.”
These comments to Thamel aren’t earth shattering, but do support what he said throughout the spring. But of course, Rodriguez is months away from even hinting about who his starter will be when the Mountaineers kickoff the 2026 season against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 5.
WVU quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. sings “Take Me Home, Country Roads” with teammates after the Gold-Blue Festival in April, 2026. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)
Back in March, Rodriguez admitted that he brought Hawkins in from Oklahoma to compete with the returning Scotty Fox Jr. and even Max Brown.
However, and with a similar mentality to last year, Rodriguez said he will play who gives him the best chance to win right now, granted he’s not against utilizing multiple healthy quarterbacks if he deems both are ready to win in the Big 12.
As far as why he wanted Hawkins, Rodriguez said he’s been familiar with the former top prospect for a while and selected Hawkins over a myriad of other possible veteran options.
Rodriguez complimented Hawkins’ intelligence and ability to learn the offense before even getting to his athletic ability and skillset. “He has all the skills you could want in a quarterback and the tools you need to win with.”
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
As a dual- threat, Hawkins totaled 4,211 yards and 55 touchdowns to just three interceptions in high school.
Fox, then a freshman, emerged throughout the 2025 season after gaining an opportunity to play due to a depth chart that endured multiple injuries. Fox threw for 1,276 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He added 201 more yards and three more scores on the ground.
For as many highlights, Fox also made mistakes. Those mistakes and a pressure to win as soon as possible led to Rich Rodriguez looking to the transfer portal for a veteran with a higher ceiling. He believes he found that guy in Hawkins, a former four-star prospect and transfer out of Oklahoma.
With Fox sticking around, he will now have to prove he’s the better option to continue leading the Mountaineers.
Find more coverage of Rich Rodriguez and the WVU Football program at WV Sports Now.
