Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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NORMAN — Michael Hawkins Jr. remains a man of few words, but he made one thing clear after practice Monday night: he believes this stint as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, however long that may be, will be different than the last.
Hawkins started four games for the Sooners last year, taking over for the struggling Jackson Arnold. The available supporting cast was not conducive to success for either of OU’s quarterbacks, though. Hawkins eventually made mistakes and landed back on the bench.
The true freshman Hawkins showed promise, however, in how he finished the season in the Armed Forces Bowl versus Navy. Now Hawkins is back starting under center after Washington State transfer John Mateer underwent thumb surgery last week.
Hawkins will lead the OU offense against Kent State at 3 p.m. Saturday, and potentially for a couple Southeastern Conference games, while Mateer heals. There’s weight on Hawkins’ shoulders to maintain the No. 5 Sooners’ standing as a College Football Playoff contender in Mateer’s absence.
Although Hawkins looked overmatched at times as a freshman, one year later, he believes he’s up for the challenge of starting in the SEC.
“Being in the fire last year helped me a lot with my process and just knowing the game and just being in there and being able to command a huddle,” Hawkins said. “…I feel like I’ve taken a big step, and I feel like a big part of that has been the people around me.”
Those “people” specifically: new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback analyst John Kueceyeski, who came down with Mateer from Washington State.
Last year, Hawkins had different voices in his ear at different times, from Seth Littrell to Kevin Johns to Joe Jon Finley. Littrell had little quarterback coaching experience, though, and Johns and Finley mostly held their peace until after Littrell was fired.
Now, Hawkins has two consistent presences in Arbuckle and Kuceyeski, and they have a track record with quarterback coaching from their time at Wazzu, having developed No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and Mateer.
“They’re very hands on,” Hawkins said. “They’re very tuned in on what they’re doing. They know what they’re talking about. I really love how they operate in the room and just kind of ask questions on the fly, keep you on your toes. It’s a great room to be in.”
Mateer, who starred under Arbuckle and Kuceyeski at Wazzu, has also given Hawkins perspectives he wasn’t getting from the similarly inexperienced Arnold last year.
“John is a great mentor,” Hawkins said. “…He’s been in the offense for a while, so he’s obviously a great guy to go to for questions, and he’ll say himself he helps me with stuff I don’t know and just can (help) develop my game.”
Hawkins said he has even been able to show Mateer a few things.
“It’s a great relationship to have and I’m glad to have him as a mentor,” Hawkins said.
With sharper coaching, what area of Hawkins’ game has he improved most since his freshman year?
“Just being able to process the field, get through my reads and sit back there confidently, I feel really good just throwing to my guys and throwing them open,” Hawkins said.
That’s also where practicing against OU’s stout defense has come in handy.
“I feel like we play against the best defense in the country every practice,” Hawkins said. “They show a ton of blitz looks and it just helps your process being able to know what to check protection wise and just get your guys open. So I feel like me being here another year will develop my game even more.”
Oklahoma’s other offensive personnel, with more depth of talent and fewer injuries in the receiver corps and along the offensive line, looks positioned to help Hawkins more than it did a year ago.
Of his group of receivers, Hawkins said: “They’re so deep and so versatile. We have so many guys that can just go and just route run. So just having those guys in the room and just being able to talk to them about how they like balls thrown to them, it’s a great room.”
On the offensive line he added: “ They’re guys that you can lean on, and they’re gonna lean on you too. … They’ve grown in every way, I feel like.”
Hawkins could’ve transferred over the offseason, after the issues last year, and with the knowledge that Mateer likely was coming to take the starting job.
But he stayed, and has been pleased with that decision. Arbuckle’s offense has been easy to learn and Hawkins doesn’t feel like the unit will look much different with himself in for Mateer.
Hawkins also said he’s not worried about the uncertainty of when Mateer may or may not return. Head coach Brent Venables recently said OU has been preparing Hawkins like he’s the starter every week, and Hawkins intends to keep his process the same.
Will he try to prove something Saturday against Kent State, though? He says no.
“I just go out there and play ball,” Hawkins said.
Instead, the OU coaching staff has instilled a different mindset in Hawkins.
“Just going 1-0 every week,” Hawkins said. “I’m looking forward to the game, and they are too, so just confident in our guys as a whole. Just going 1-0.”
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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