Offense
The quarterback position will be manned by North Texas transfer Drew Mestemaker. All he did last season was lead the nation in passing yards with 4,379 and tied for second in touchdowns with 34. The All-AAC performer led the Mean Green to 12 wins. His vision and processing are elite and set him apart.
The running back room will be led by North Texas transfer Caleb Hawkins. Hawkins was an All-American last season and set the FBS touchdown record for a freshman with 29. Tre Page III (Tarleton State), William Mason (D2 Central Oklahoma), Ayo Adeyi (James Madison), Dennis Moody (North Texas), and true freshman KD Jones will join Hawkins.
The wide receiver room is very transfer heavy. The additions of Justin Bowick (Illinois), Miles Coleman (North Texas), Terrence Lewis (North Texas), Wyatt Young (North Texas, All-AAC), Rodney Harris II (Ohio), Chris Barnes (Wake Forest), Israel Polk (Akron), and tight end Donovan Green (LSU), among others, will see plenty of action in this offense.
The offensive line room returns some experience in Jakobe Sanders and Louie Canepa. The additions of Ashton Lepo (Michigan State), Tyler Mercer (Kansas), Braydon Nelson (North Texas), Desmond Magiya (North Texas), Johnny Dickson III (North Texas, All-AAC), Jacob Sexton (Oklahoma), Joseph Hanson (Coastal Carolina, All-SBC), Kai Holec (Indiana State), and Shaun Turgeson (Portland State) will need time to gel.
Defense
The defensive line room returns some experience in Jaleel Johnson, Malik Charles, and DeSean Brown. The additions of Dominic Macon (Washington), Enai White (Penn State), Billy Walton III (SMU), Jerry Lawson (Louisville), Braylon Rigsby (Texas Tech), Fatafehi Vailea II (North Texas), Keviyan Huddleston (North Texas), James Williams (Florida State), Saadiq Clements (North Texas), and DJ Jackson Jr. (Troy) will also take time to get used to the system.
The linebacker room returns Trip White and Gunnar Wilson but will also be transfer heavy. The additions of Jack Puckett (D2 Central Oklahoma), Dallas Winner-Johnson (Tulane), Isaiah Chisom (UCLA), Ethan Wesloski (North Texas, All-AAC), Tate Romney (Arizona State), and Taurean Davis (JUCO) will all play vital roles for this defense.
The secondary returns experience in LaDainian Fields, Cameron Epps, and Kobe Foreman. The additions Mose Phillips III (Missouri), Trudell Berry (Vanderbilt), Mo Horn (Texas Tech), Jeremiah Piper (Youngstown State), Evan Jackson (North Texas), Kollin Lewis (North Texas), Quinton Hammonds (North Texas), Kanijal Thomas (Kansas State), Christian Bodnar (Liberty), Vincent Holmes (Washington), and Markeith Williams (Miami) are substantial additions for this unit.
Specialists
Both kicking and punting roles will belong to transfers. Kicking duties will belong to SMU transfer Sam Keltner, who will continue to work on consistency. Punting duties will belong to Stephen F. Austin transfer Lachie Pozzoban. He was an FCS Freshman All-American last season. Wake Forest transfer Chris Barnes can be a real weapon as a return man as well.
2026 Schedule
- 9/5 at Tulsa
- 9/12 Oregon
- 9/19 Murray State
- 9/26 at West Virginia
- 10/10 UCF
- 10/17 at Houston
- 10/24 Colorado
- 10/31 at Iowa State
- 11/7 at Kansas State
- 11/14 Texas Tech
- 11/21 at Arizona State
- 11/28 Kansas
Final Analysis
The bar for improvement is very low. Oklahoma State hasn't won a Big 12 game since 2023. Eric Morris has built winners at his previous stops. He brings his staff and tons of players with him from North Texas. The offense will be potent, as Drew Mestemaker is the real deal at quarterback. How quickly can things gel is the real question.
