What will it take for West Virginia football to keep Michael Hawkins Jr.?

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 5-3 entering their bye week, already having toppled their win total from last season and just one win away from bowl eligibility. And in large part, that's due to the play of Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback.

The Oklahoma transfer has been everything the Mountaineers had hoped for and more, winning multiple games by putting his team on his shoulders and making big plays. This season, he's 90-for-159 passing for 1,598 yards, 11 touchdowns, and two inceptions, while also rushing for 836 yards and 16 touchdowns with his legs. And Rich Rodriguez knows that he needs Hawkins Jr. back next year.

"We've got to make sure he stays in Morgantown the next three years, or two-and-a-half," Rodriguez said about him after the game.

What will be the pricetag for WVU football to retain Mike Hawkins Jr. in 2027?

We have no idea what the specifici number will be to keep Hawkins Jr. around Morgantown. But what we do know is roughly how much he cost this season, what the going market for high-level Power 4 starting quarterbacks is in the transfer portal, and some of the non-monetary factors that might weigh into the decision as well.

On the Country Roads Confidential podcast from EerSports last Monday, West Virginia reporters Mike Casazza and Chris Anderson indicated $1.5 million as an approximate number for what Hawkins Jr. is currently making – well, they said $1.50, but their ensuing conversation would give away the 'million' aspect.

They also estimated that Hawkins Jr.'s asking price for next season will likely double, at the very least. So we're looking at around $3 million as the baseline, roughly. National reporting for this season indicated that number, if offered for 2026, would have made him one of the Top 10-15 highest-paid quarterbacks in college football. And early reporting indicates the market next year will be between $4 million-$7 million for a top-level quarterback.

What else could factor into Hawkins Jr.'s decision?

Can the Mountaineers afford that number? Right now, $4 million would be just a bit under one-third of their total budget that was reportedly spent on the offense in 2026. Of course, the Pat McAfee and Ken Kendrick level donors might be willing to toss some extra money in the pot to keep Hawkins Jr. after seeing what he has done this season. But that's a lot of money West Virginia just might not have.

But one thing that could keep him around is how well he fits in West Virginia's scheme. Hawkins Jr. will develop as a passer further, and already makes some damn good throws. But he's also prone to overthrowing receivers occasionally, and his clear strength is with his legs, where he changes the game significantly.

He currently averages 104.5 yards per game on 20 carries per game. He leads the nation with 16 rushing touchdowns. He's not getting the Heisman alone on a 56% completion percentage and 199 passing yards per game. And how many coaches are going to use Hawkins Jr. on the ground the way Rodriguez does? Well, probably not many.

There are a number of teams that could afford Hawkins Jr. at the pricetag he'll likely ask for, and have the money to put the right pieces around him. But not all of them will allow Hawkins Jr. to put up the gaudy numbers he's currently posting in Rodriguez's offense, and he's clearly comfortable. Might he be willing to take a slight discount to stay in that system and around offensive pieces he's comfortable with? Maybe.

And let's not forget that Hawkins Jr. was a four-star recruit that tried the big program and was benched. Recently, his dad posted a picture of Hawkins Jr. and Rodriguez embracing on the sideline, with a caption that read:

"Amazing what happens when you have people in your corner that have your best interest. Proud of your relentless effort and resilience to endure & know that it is necessary to achieve the goal! Keep fighting Mike."

We're not going to pretend loyalty is some massive factor for most athlete like Hawkins Jr. in the NIL and revenue share era. But there is a possibility that Hawkins Jr. does genuinely like playing for Rodriguez and in his system, and believes that he's in the right place for his success. And if that's true, that could also help keep him in Morgantown.

One thing that is for certain is that tampering exists, whether you want it to or not, and teams are prbably already in backchannel discussion with Hawkins Jr.'s agent about what he might cost if he enters the portal. And Rich Rodriguez acknowledged recently that contract discussions will be a critical focus during the bye week. So the race to keep Hawkins Jr. begins now – we'll have to see if West Virginia can keep up.

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