By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – Rich Rodriguez is gearing up for yet another quarterback battle in Morgantown. Scotty Fox Jr., Michael Hawkins Jr., and Max Brown will battle it out to take the field first when the Mountaineers return to action on September 5th. Though how the race will go is anybody’s guess, all three players possess unique skill sets that make them intriguing prospects for the position.
Even with the uncertainty, quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is arguably the most fascinating option of them all.
Hawkins, who comes to WVU by way of Oklahoma, has spent the majority of his career as a backup for the Sooners. Appearing in 9 games, the Texas native tallied 950 passing yards and 6 touchdowns to 2 interceptions during his time in Norman. He also became a factor on the ground, racking up 262 rushing yard and 2 rushing touchdowns.
His stats, however, are not what make him a captivating choice to become WVU’s starting quarterback in the fall. Instead, it is the distinct skill sets that Hawkins brings to the table.
Make no mistake, Hawkins will not currently “wow” anybody as a passer. That part of his game still needs loads of work. What catches the eye of so many analysts and fans is his speed. Hawkins has the ability to make a defense pay if they do not respect his legs. Utilizing both scrambling and zone reads is the area in which he can make the most noise.
Rich Rodriguez’s spread option offense is made for just that. Built on the shoulders of legends such as Pat White and Rasheed Marshall, Rodriguez has proven that he can have success with a mobile quarterback in Morgantown. So why can’t it happen again?
Well, the answer is simple – it can.
If Hawkins can quickly learn and become comfortable in the offense, he has the potential to not only become the next dangerous signal-caller under Rodriguez, but the next great one.
While he will likely not come out and say it, Rodriguez will give fans hints as to how Hawkins is progressing in his offense throughout the spring.
Stay tuned to WV Sports Chat for updates on the quarterback situation for WVU Football.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
