Some of these Transfer Portal moves can be seen from miles away.
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday that OU backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is expected to enter the Transfer Portal when it officially opens on Friday. According to Thamel, to no surprise, Hawkins' brother, freshman cornerback Maliek Hawkins, will also follow him to the portal. Both are OU legacies with their father, Mike Hawkins, also playing cornerback for the Sooners.
Michael Hawkins Jr. and Maliek Hawkins expected to transfer
Despite having OU DNA, both players, especially Michael Hawkins Jr., were anticipated to leave Oklahoma this offseason, especially if QB1 John Mateer returned, which hasn't been announced yet. Both Hawkins parents voiced their frustrations during the Sooners' win against LSU in their regular-season finale as Mateer threw three interceptions. All posts have since been deleted, but still unveiled the family's issues with the program and Michael's playing time.
Michael Hawkins Jr. made five starts in two seasons at OU, including filling in for an injured Mateer against Kent State this season. In that game, Hawkins completed 14 of 24 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also had nine rushes for 33 yards and another score. Outside of that start, Hawkins appeared in just one other game to preserve a redshirt, giving him three years of eligibility still left.
Last season as a freshman, Hawkins briefly took the starting job from former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold, who eventually transferred to Auburn and is back in the Tranfer Portal this year. Hawkins made four starts before Arnold got the job back.
In those starts, Hawkins completed 65% of his passes for 574 yards and two TDs compared to two interceptions. He also rushed for 142 yards and a score in those starts. His best outing was against Navy in last year's Armed Forces Bowl loss as Hawkins threw for 247 yards and two TDs with a depleted roster around him.
Hawkins will also forever be a part of OU history as the starting QB for the Sooners' first-ever SEC win against Auburn last season and was the first true freshman to ever start at quarterback in the Red River Rivalry.
Hawkins flashed his potential as a former four-star recruit with a loaded list of offers, but never really got a chance to flourish at Oklahoma. OU fans were also never actually impressed with Hawkins when he did get a few chances to show what he could do.
The Sooners are still waiting on Mateer's decision of returning for his final season or heading to the NFL, but this news points to him staying. OU also has sophomore Whitt Newbauer and freshman Jett Niu on the roster, with four-star recruit Bowe Bentley also on the way.