After a year away from football, former Nebraska Gatorade player of the year Noah Walters is back on the field — this time at Oklahoma State.
The Lincoln East graduate appeared on the Cowboys’ roster Wednesday afternoon. Listed as a redshirt junior, Walters is one of five quarterbacks listed, joining Gretna product Zane Flores, who has stepped into the starting role as TCU transfer Hauss Hejny remains out after breaking his foot in the team’s season opener. Two true freshmen round out the QB group.
Walters played two years of FCS football at North Alabama, where he threw for 1,799 yards and 16 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022. He was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) for that debut.
He followed that up with 2,346 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023. Walters entered the transfer portal in spring 2024 and sat out last season. According to his OSU bio, he attended UCF during that time but wasn’t part of the football program.
Pokes Report reported Walters has two years of eligibility remaining and was at OSU practice Sept. 2, and that he’s been enrolled in classes since Sept. 4.
Flores replaced Hejny in the opener against UT Martin on Aug. 28 and helped secure a 27-7 win. A week later, Flores made his first collegiate start in a 69-3 loss to No. 6 Oregon. Through two games, he’s 20-of-39 for 203 yards with two interceptions.
Hejny had foot surgery and is expected to miss extended time, though the timetable for his return is unclear.
Walters and Flores have history. In the 2021 state playoffs, Walters threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in Lincoln East’s 59-42 loss to Gretna. Flores answered with 231 passing yards and four total scores. Gretna went on to win the Class A state title, though the championship was later vacated due to the use of an ineligible player.
Walters finished his high school career that fall with 3,402 passing yards and 44 touchdowns — earning Nebraska’s top individual honor before heading to the college ranks. Now, he and Flores are teammates in the Cowboys’ quarterback room.
Nate Head is the sports editor of the Journal Star. On Twitter @NateHead_LJS.
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