BREAKING: Per On3- Michael Hawkins Expected to Be WVU’s Starting Quarterback!

The battle for WVU’s starting quarterback job may finally be over! According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Michael Hawkins Jr. is expected to earn the starting job after competing with second-year quarterback Scotty Fox throughout the offseason. Hawkins now appears positioned to lead Rich Rodriguez’s offense when West Virginia opens the 2026 season against Coastal Carolina. What does Hawkins bring to the Mountaineers? Why did he emerge over Fox? And could his speed, athleticism and playmaking ability make him the perfect quarterback for Rich Rodriguez’s system? We break down the quarterback decision, what it means for Scotty Fox and why Michael Hawkins could become WVU’s next breakout star.