New Oklahoma State Star Caleb Hawkins Compared to Former All-American

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have one of the most talented backs in the country, thanks to the transfer of Caleb Hawkins.

Oklahoma State's Caleb Hawkins. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When the Oklahoma State Cowboys hired Eric Morris to be their head coach, they got a whole group of former North Texas football players as well.

Nearly 20 Mean Green players from last year's 12-2 team followed their head coach and most of the UNT staff to Stillwater for 2026.

Some have made consistent headlines this offseason, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, a passer some believe is an under-the-radar NFL draft pick next April.

But there are other stars on this roster too. Recently, running back Caleb Hawkins was compared to a former All-American running back by former ESPN analyst David Pollock.

David Pollock’s All-American Comparison

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I'm ridin' with @CowboyFB in 2026. BIG THINGS COMIN'! pic.twitter.com/1oC4Iurcwb

— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) June 25, 2026

The former ESPN College Gameday analyst now hosts the podcast “See Ball, Get Ball.” He spent a recent episode praising the Cowboys and saying he sees a really good team for 2026. He said he’s been watching more North Texas tape and that Hawkins — who played there last year — jumps off the tape.

In fact, it led Pollock to compare him to a former All-American running back.

“He reminds me a lot of Knowshon Moreno,” Pollock said.

Moreno spent four seasons at Georgia, including a redshirt year. He rushed for 3,616 yards and 27 touchdowns across three seasons. He was named a first-team all-American in 2008, his final year of college football. He was also named a two-time all-SEC selection and the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2007. Moreno played six years in the NFL, mostly for the Denver Broncos, and was a first-round pick coming out of college.

Hawkins is a Shawnee, Okla., native who is returning home after having one of the best true freshman seasons of any running back in FBS history. He the FBS record for touchdowns scored by a freshman with 29 total. With his 29 total touchdowns and 25 rushing touchdowns he ranked No. 1 in the FBS, as did his 174 points scored and 13.4 points per game. Because of that he was not only named a freshman all-American, but he was named a second- and third-team all-American by two different outlets.

He finished the season with 1,434 rushing yards to rank No. 5 in the FBS, carrying the ball 231 times for an average of 6.21 yards per carry. He also set UNT’s single-game record with five rushing touchdowns against UAB.

He and the rest of the North Texas transfers have a chance to help the Cowboys turn things around after a 1-11 season in 2025 and after two seasons in which they the program has won just four games.