WVU football likely to land backup SEC quarterback in transfer portal

The West Virginia Mountaineers seem to have already found their competition at quarterback for Scotty Fox Jr. in the portal.

Many assume that Fox will inherit the starting job in 2026 after earning six starts last year, but there likely will be a competition in Morgantown for that spot, and we now have an idea of exactly who will be at least one of the other quarterbacks working to land the gig.

The West Virginia Mountaineers are hosting Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. this weekend, according to multiple reports. Hawkins started five games and appeared in nine for Oklahoma, and went 91-of-147 passing during his two-year stint with program while accumulating 950 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also provides the dual-threat ability Rodriguez loves in his quarterbacks, tallying 262 yards and two touchdowns with his legs during his time in Norman. He was a four-star prospect out of high school, and also had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, TCU, and Texas tech.

Just hours after it was announced that Hawkins would be visiting Morgantown, 247Sports national transfer portal reporter Chris Hummer logged an expert prediction that Hawkins would be transferring to the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers will also likely be landing a package deal if they secure their man at quarterback, as his brother, Maliek Hawkins, also plays for the Sooners and is currently in the portal, and it is widely assumed the pair will be transferring to the same program. Hawkins was a three-star recruit in the 2025 signing class and was initially recruited to the Sooners by current WVU defensive coordinator Zac Alley before he was hired away by the Mountaineers.