10
Loading video...
By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
When Eric Morris took the Oklahoma State head-coaching job, he knew exactly who he wanted to be his quarterback.
And fortunately for him, he had a really good one willing to follow him from North Texas to Stillwater in Drew Mestemaker.
The 20-year-old Mestemaker had a breakout season last year, passing for 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 2025. He led the country in passing yards and ranked third in touchdowns.
Read More on NCAA
But there’s a big difference between the level of competition Mestemaker played against in the American Athletic Conference last year and what he’ll see next year in the Big 12, which is why one rival coach is hesitant about how Mestemaker will play despite his gaudy numbers last year.
...
“He's able to have a really good feel for zones and fitting the ball in spaces and can lead guys,” an anonymous Big 12 coach told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “The timing, anticipatory, all that is impressive. I just think the level of defense he's going to see is going to be increased. When I watched them play, they were better than most everybody they played at North Texas.”
While the point about the step up in opposing defenses stands, another Big 12 coach believes based on what he saw last year, Mestemaker will ease right into his new conference.
“The best quarterback in the league is at Oklahoma State,” the coach said. “Accurate, sneaky athletic, can make all the throws. He's an NFL quarterback when you watch his tape. And then you don't think he's athletic, but he's way more athletic than people give him credit for.”
Fortunately for Mestemaker, the bar is pretty low at Oklahoma State.
Last year’s starting QB, Zane Flores, threw for a miniscule 1,490 yards, three touchdowns, and seven interceptions last year.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines