Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker wasn’t even the beginning signal-caller on his highschool soccer team.
Now, he just might be the hottest identify in the race to go No. 1 total in next April’s NFL Draft.
Mestemaker, who adopted new Cowboys head coach Eric Morris and offensive coordinator Sean Brophy from North Texas to Stillwater, has emerged as one of the nation’s high passers seemingly out of nowhere.
Oklahoma State University quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) warms up before an NCAA soccer sport against the University of Central Florida at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
NFL scouts and draft analysts are taking discover.
After shedding a quarterback competitors at Vandegrift High School in Texas, Mestemaker stayed put, enjoying defensive back and punter rather than transferring to get a beginning job behind middle.
He ultimately walked on at North Texas, where he spent his freshman season behind Chandler Morris before getting his first begin in a bowl sport against Texas State.
Mestemaker had a breakout sophomore marketing campaign, during which he led the FBS in passing yards, setting the stage for his transfer to Oklahoma State and a gorgeous ascent up NFL Draft boards as other huge identify school quarterbacks like Arch Manning wrestle to show they deserve to be the first player off the board.
Coming into the 12 months, Mestemaker was already on the radar of NFL Draft analysts, although he was usually ranked outside the high tier of quarterback prospects and a fringe first-round choose.
Just six weeks into the season, his prospect standing has modified dramatically.
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) warms up prior to a sport against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Mestemaker as the No. 2 player on his board behind Ohio State’s star broad receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler also dubbed Mestemaker as his QB1 in the 2027 class. PFF has him as the first passer off the board in their first mock draft of the 12 months.
“Mestemaker’s path has been unprecedented,” Brugler advised The Post. “While still raw in areas, he has exciting foundational traits with his size, arm, athleticism and mental toughness and his issues are primarily experienced-based.”
CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson, who ranked Mestemaker as his No. 9 quarterback prospect over the summer season, initially had reservations about his arm energy and potential to deal with harder competitors.
Those considerations have rapidly light, with Wilson now rating him second at the place.
“Are they getting better? Are they not making the same mistakes they were making before? How are they against better competition?” Wilson said of what he asks himself when evaluating quarterbacks. “And every single test Mestemaker keeps passing.”
After a season-opening dud against Tulsa, the Cowboys have won 4 straight behind Mestemaker and a high-powered offense.
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker (17) stands behind the line during the first half of a sport against the Murray State Racers at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Their greatest win came a month in the past, when they took down then-No. 6 Oregon, 39-31.
Mestemaker kicked off the sport with a 75-yard run, displaying off the athleticism that consultants believe could assist him thrive at the next stage, and completed with 317 yards through the air while outplaying fellow draft prospect Dante Moore.
Another main check awaits Saturday, when No. 18 Oklahoma State travels to face No. 20 Houston in a showdown with main Big 12 implications, giving Mestemaker a probability to show his play is no fluke.
Oklahoma State Cowboys offensive coordinator Sean Brophy walks on the discipline before a sport against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the lead up to Saturday’s huge sport, Brophy, who has been with Mestemaker since his North Texas days, said he has been astonished by his growth.
“I’ve never been around a quarterback that’s consistently gotten better, every day,” Brophy advised The Post. “It’s just like you’re watching somebody really special grow up in front of your eyes.”
Arch Manning had once been thought of the No. 1 QB prospect in the 2027, but that may be altering. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders always believed Mestemaker had the expertise to succeed at quarterback, but even he is blown away by where his former player is right this moment.
“I’m sure there’ll be a movie made about Drew,” Sanders said during an interview this week. “Because this is just an unbelievable rise.”
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