All pokes

Could Drew Mestemaker be the Gunslinger to Revive Cowboy Football?

The Cowboys are hoping for a resurgence.
Taylor Skieens|
Jan 3, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; North Texas Mean Green quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) scores a touchdown against the Texas State Bobcats during the fourth quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Jan 3, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; North Texas Mean Green quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) scores a touchdown against the Texas State Bobcats during the fourth quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

In this story:

Oklahoma State Cowboys

As the last chapter closes on another college football season in Stillwater, the transfer portal is about to set the plains of Oklahoma on fire. Oklahoma State fans have reason to perk up those orange ears. Whispers out of the Big 12 suggest the Cowboys are on the verge of landing a quarterback phenom who could ignite Boone Pickens Stadium like a Fourth of July fireworks show.

Enter Drew Mestemaker, the North Texas gunslinger who's got the arm of a cannon and the story of a Hollywood underdog. If new head coach Eric Morris seals this deal, it might just be the spark Oklahoma State needs to climb back into playoff contention. The question may not be 'if' Morris can land his former quarterback but 'when'.

Let's rewind the tape on Mestemaker. This 6-foot-4, 211-pound redshirt freshman hails from Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas – yeah, deep in Longhorn country, but don't hold that against him. He never started a single varsity game as a quarterback in high school, earning zero stars as a recruit and walking on at North Texas.

But oh, how the tables turned in 2025. Under Morris, Mestemaker exploded onto the scene, leading the FBS in passing yards with a jaw-dropping 4,379, slinging 34 touchdowns against just a handful of picks. He shattered school records, including a 608-yard masterpiece that left defenses gasping for air.

Now, with Morris taking the reins in Stillwater after Mike Gundy's storied run, the connection is electric. Mestemaker announced his portal entry just days ago, and sources close to the program tell me the Cowboys are the frontrunners with a potential two year deal in the works. Why? Morris knows this kid's potential better than anyone. He molded Mestemaker from a benchwarmer into a national sensation, guiding North Texas to a surprising 11-2 campaign that turned heads across the AAC. Imagine that precision passing attack transplanted to the Big 12, where the Cowboys have long been known for producing next level wide receiver talent.

He's not just any transfer; he's a proven leader with poise under pressure, completing over 65% of his throws in clutch moments. If Oklahoma State lands him on a reported two-year deal, it addresses the glaring void left by a disastrous 2025 quarterback season for the Pokes. Coach Morris, with his Air Raid roots, could build an offense around Mestemaker's quick release and field vision, potentially vaulting the Cowboys back to double-digit wins.

Cowboy Nation, this is the stuff of orange dreams. Mestemaker's journey from high school backup to portal prize embodies everything that is Stillwater. As signing day looms, keep those pistols firing – this could be the move that puts the Pokes back on the map.

Published
Taylor Skieens
TAYLOR SKIEENS

Taylor Skieens has been an avid sports journalist with the McCurtain Gazette in Idabel, Oklahoma for seven years. He holds the title of Sports Editor for one of the oldest remaining print publications in the state of Oklahoma. Taylor grew up in the small lumber town of Wright City Oklahoma where he played baseball and basketball for the Lumberjax.

Home/Football