Michael Hawkins Jr. posts a Heisman-style performance in Cincinnati win

The West Virginia Mountaineers got back on track with a thrilling homecoming victory over Cincinnati on Saturday, which ended a three-game losing streak and earned the Mountaineers their first Big 12 win this season. But it's a win that you don't get without Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback.

West Virginia's starting quarterback had potentially his best game since joining the Mountaineers, going 25-for-33 for 464 yards and three touchdowns in the passing game, while also adding 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

He also led the Mountaineers on a game-winning drive that started on their own 1-yard line with two minutes to play, and ended with a walk-off 35-yard field goal.

Hawkins Jr.'s performance draws significant national attention

One thing that feels like a certainty is that the Mountaineers would not have been in the game at the end of the afternoon without Hawkins Jr. at quarterback, and they also would not have likely made such quick work of their final drive with anyone else under center. By the end of the day, he accounted for 541 of the team's 598 offensive yards, and five of their six touchdowns.

"How about Mike Hawkins. Jr.? He was phenomenal," Rich Rodriguez said after the win.

That performance quickly garnered national attention, as it felt like most of what fans were talking about in the college football world after Saturday's afternoon slate was the performance from Hawkins Jr., and some even tossed the Heisman contender label on him after the win.

And honestly, it doesn't feel like that much of a stretch, if the Mountaineers are able to reel off some wins to close the year. It's hard to remember a more dominant, game-changing performance from a West Virginia quarterback in recent history, and it's certainly the type of performance that proves Hawkins Jr. is an award-winning level of player at signal caller.

Check out some of the social media reactions to Hawkins Jr.'s performance below.

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