As Oklahoma State football begins charting its future beyond the Mike Gundy era, attention has naturally shifted toward the transfer portal as a means to stabilize and retool quickly. One intriguing potential target has quietly emerged: redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker from North Texas. With UNT head coach Eric Morris rumored to be in contention for the Oklahoma State job, the idea of Mestemaker following him to Stillwater makes more and more sense by the day.
Mestemaker's Breakout Season at North Texas
Mestemaker has been one of the most surprising breakout quarterbacks of the 2025 season so far. In his first full season as the starter, he's already shown the poise and production of a veteran. Through five games, he's thrown for over 1,200 yards, tossed 11 touchdowns, and — perhaps most impressively — has yet to throw an interception. He’s also added a pair of rushing touchdowns, proving himself capable of extending plays and creating opportunities with his legs when necessary. His completion percentage hovers near 70 percent, reflecting an efficient and accurate approach to the position.
What's even more compelling is Mestemaker’s backstory. He didn’t start a varsity game in high school, flying completely under the radar as a recruit. Yet, North Texas took a chance on him as a walk-on. Over time, he climbed the depth chart and eventually beat out a transfer quarterback to win the starting job. That kind of development speaks not only to his work ethic and coachability, but also to the belief Eric Morris and his staff have in him. For a coach like Morris, who’s known for his quarterback development, Mestemaker represents a handpicked success story.
A Logical Move If Morris Comes to Stillwater
If Morris were to become the next head coach at Oklahoma State, a possibility gaining traction in coaching circles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him bring Mestemaker along. For a program in transition, bringing in a young quarterback who already understands the system, the terminology, and the expectations could provide a vital sense of continuity and calm during a turbulent period. This could go a long way into finding instant success in the same light as what Oklahoma has done this year with bringing in Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle and QB John Mateer. This pairing made the transition much more seamless as both Arbuckle and Mateer could help coach the new offense to the team the same way a Morris-Mestemaker pairing could do.
Oklahoma State is not in a position to slowly build from the ground up. The Cowboys are looking to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving Big 12, and the transfer portal will play a critical role in that process. The 2026 high school recruiting class is currently ranked outside the top 100, which makes it unlikely to provide immediate help. Whoever takes over as head coach will almost certainly need to lean heavily on experienced players in the portal to build a functional and competitive roster in year one. Mestemaker, with multiple years of eligibility left, could be a foundational piece in that effort.
A Fit with Upside — and a Few Questions
Of course, there are questions. Mestemaker’s strong start has come against a limited sample size of defenses, and how he responds to more complex schemes and pressure will be something to monitor. Still, what he's shown so far is enough to raise eyebrows — and interest — at the Power Five level.
For Oklahoma State, this wouldn’t be a desperate swing. It would be a calculated, strategic move that pairs a rising quarterback with a familiar coaching voice, while filling an immediate need at the most important position on the field. Mestemaker may not have been a household name at the start of the season, but if the pieces fall into place, he could become a centerpiece in Oklahoma State’s effort to bounce back quickly and regain its footing in the post-Gundy era.