STILLWATER – Game one of the Eric Morris era at Oklahoma State is less than a week away and the excitement surrounding the season only continues to grow. The Pokes kick things off on Saturday, September 5 on the road against Tulsa.
As it’s been talked about since December, Morris and Co. brought the top contributors from North Texas with them, led by starting quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
While it’s a brand new coaching staff and nearly brand new team, the Pokes will be looking to avenge the loss to the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater last September. One thing, however, is infinitely clear: TU head coach Tre Lamb is really high on Mestemaker.
“He’s kind of a hybrid Phillips Rivers and Brett Farve,” Tre Lamb said. “The guy’s got as much arm talent as anybody in the [NFL] draft, quick release, big hands. The thing that I’m impressed by is he can take a hit. He will stand in there and he will take a beating over and over and over and when he runs, he runs he doesn’t really slide. He’s big. He’s a very short strider; so, it’s hard to explain but his feet allow him to throw [quickly and] without much energy having to be put into it. So, it’s like he can get the ball out at times where most quarterbacks are having to wind up and step to throw. He can throw off his back foot, off platform, on the run and he hates [a] check down, like he is going to rip it and he’s gonna fit it into windows. There’s gonna be five or six throws Saturday where he’s like OK indefensible; don’t care what you called it, that play, we can’t cover that just because of his arm talent. So, he’s continued to grow. He’s only had 14 stars and he’s only gonna get better. I’m kind of glad we’re playing them game one and not game 10.”
While he’s only had 14 starts, none of them at the P4 level, there is no question about Mestemaker’s ability and talent. He enters just his second year starting football having thrown for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns to nine interceptions as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He also had 57 carries for five touchdowns.
The size, strength and arm talent is definitely there for Mestemaker. We’ll find out over the next several weeks if he can replicate everything else at this level. I, for one, am excited to watch.
