Where did Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. play high school football, and how did he become the starting QB of the Sooners?
Here’s a look at Hawkins’ path to his current position and what he accomplished along the way.
Where Did Michael Hawkins Jr. Play in High School?
Hawkins played football at Allen High School in 2021 and 2022 and then, as a senior in 2024, played at Emerson High School in Dallas, Texas.
At Allen High School in 2021, Hawkins was named the Texas District 5-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year for his performance.
After thriving as a sophomore at the varsity level, Hawkins returned to Allen as a junior and amassed 2,024 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes. That production was strong, but it was only a precursor for what he’d accomplish at Emerson a year later.
After transferring to Emerson High for his final season before making the leap to college football, Hawkins reached a new level of proficiency. He amassed 5,211 total yards and 55 touchdowns, while throwing only three interceptions, and was named the District 3-5A Division II Most Valuable Player in 2023.
Hawkins’ play earned him a four-star recruit billing on ESPN and a high three-star recruit billing on 247 Sports, and he was also granted a place on the Elite 11 quarterback roster, where he became a finalist in the throwing competition.
Hawkins had offers from blue-blood programs like Alabama and Michigan, as well as other formidable Power Four schools like Penn State and Missouri. But Hawkins’ father, Michael Hawkins Sr. — who played defensive back in the NFL for four seasons — played at Oklahoma, and the younger Hawkins chose to sustain that legacy.
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Hawkins ultimately earned his first major action as a college QB in relief of Jackson Arnold in Oklahoma’s early-season loss against Tennessee. Arnold was benched for poor performance, and in his stead, Hawkins went on to complete 11 of 18 attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Later, Hawkins was named the Sooner’s starting QB moving forward — beginning with Oklahoma’s Week 5 clash against the Auburn Tigers. A true freshman, Hawkins has already found his way to the top of the depth chart, and more success is sure to come.
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