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North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker Was The Talk of College Football On Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Jan 3, 2025 10:54 PM ET

Whether it's teams playing for the College Football Playoff or a bowl game in general, programs across the country are losing players left and right to the NCAA Transfer Portal.

While it causes frustrations from fans, every once in a while, it leads to a great story, which is exactly what we got Friday evening.

In the First Responder Bowl between the North Texas Mean Green (6-6) and Texas State Bobcats (7-5), the Mean Green had a very unique quarterback situation in their 30-28 loss. Following the departure of second-team All-AAC quarterback Chandler Morris, who transferred to Virginia, the Mean Green turned to walk-on freshman Drew Mestemaker, who had just five career passing attempts. He was tasked with going head-to-head with the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year Jordan McCloud.

However, Mestemaker isn't the typical walk-on quarterback who was overlooked in high school after a productive career at quarterback. Instead, as revealed on the broadcast, he hadn't started a game at quarterback since his freshman season of high school, for the B-Team at Vandegrift High School in Texas. A fact that social media loved after he threw for a program-record 390 yards in a bowl game, with two touchdowns through the air and a 70-yard rushing touchdown.

DREW. MESTEMAKER. OH MY GOODNESS!!#AmericanWay x @MeanGreenFB pic.twitter.com/ZMBxp3BN31
— The American (@American_Conf) January 4, 2025

"First Kyle Trask now Drew Mestemaker. Only Texas high school football has QB’s that are good enough to start in college," wrote one user.

"North Texas played a good game even tho they lost. Was REALLY impressed with their young QB Drew Mestemaker," added another.

"Fantastic bowl game! One of the best of the season. This game had it all. Congrats to Texas State but how about Drew Mestemaker? I think we'll see him again," chimed in another.

"It’s some coaches on the phone right now… Drew Mestemaker about to hit that portal," joked another.

During high school, Mestemaker was an all-conference punter and also played safety. The quarterback room ahead of him was loaded during his tenure at Vandegrift, according to Denton Record-Chronicle , as he sat behind current Baylor catcher Brayden Buchanan, who set five school records. He then got stuck behind fellow 2024 recruit, three-star Deuce Adams, who transferred to Vandegrift from New Braunfels Canyon for his senior season and is now at Louisville.

Whether or not he has a path to the field in Denton with Miami transfer Reese Poffenbarger coming to town via the portal is unknown. Still, Mestemaker may have earned himself some looks from programs across the country if he tests the portal waters.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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