WVU’s Mike Hawkins Ranks Among College Football’s Top 10 QBs
PFF places Hawkins ninth
PFF gives Hawkins the ninth-highest quarterback grade this season, at 88.3. Darian Mensah leads the listed rankings with 92.4, while Devon Dampier is 10th at 87.9. The article says Hawkins is playing among the country’s best signal callers and expects him likely to finish the season in the top 10. It also says he could enter 2027 widely viewed as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks.
A major threat on the ground
Hawkins has scored 16 rushing touchdowns, the most in the country, including running backs. He ranks 11th nationally with 836 rushing yards. He has forced 44 missed tackles and gained 620 yards after contact. The article describes him as difficult to bring down in the open field.
Deep passing shapes his numbers
Hawkins leads the country in yards per completion at 17.8. He also tops the Big 12 in yards per attempt, at 10.1, and adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, at 10.8. His 56% completion rate comes alongside a high volume of deep throws: 30.2% of his attempts travel at least 20 yards, more than any other college quarterback, according to the article.
Big throws and team outlook
Hawkins has made 15 big-time throws, the sixth-most in the country. He has four turnover-worthy plays, the second-fewest among the quarterbacks listed in that comparison, and a 10.9% drop percentage, the highest among them.
Key points
- PFF ranks Mike Hawkins Jr. ninth among quarterbacks this season with an 88.3 grade.
- Hawkins leads the country with 16 rushing touchdowns and 17.8 yards per completion.
- He throws passes of at least 20 yards on 30.2% of his attempts, the highest rate in college football.
- The article says West Virginia should make keeping Hawkins in Morgantown a priority.