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Drew Mestemaker: From Walk-On to NFL Draft Prospect
Developing
In Short: Drew Mestemaker, a former walk-on quarterback from Texas, is making waves in college football and NFL Draft circles ahead of the 2027 draft.
CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah highlights Mestemaker's journey from a safety and punter to a promising NFL Draft prospect. His Oklahoma State Cowboys have had an unorthodox start, losing to Tulsa but defeating No. 6 Oregon.
Through two games, Mestemaker has faced pressure on 32.3% of dropbacks, according to TruMedia. The scouting report suggests he has the potential to be a top 50 overall prospect, though his pocket presence was inconsistent last season.
Mestemaker's foot speed allows him to gain yardage on the ground, as demonstrated against Oregon. However, he is more of a straight-line runner than a sudden athlete who can create space for himself.
Retired NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson, speaking to CBS Sports, notes that Mestemaker's performance against pressure has been a highlight of his season, though his overall draft prospects are still being evaluated.
Background
North Texas is a term used primarily by residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to refer to a geographic area of Texas, generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, west of Paris, and north of Waco.
What's still developing
- CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah wrote an excellent story detailing the Texas native's journey from earning district recognition as both a safety and punter, but never taking a varsity snap at quarterback to now being one of the hottest names at the quarterback position ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.
- The college football and NFL Draft communities alike are enamored with a former walk-on quarterback from Austin, Texas.
- No, this is not a repackaged story on Baker Mayfield, but rather Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker.
- I solicited the opinion of retired old man soccer star and CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson for his thoughts on the quarterback captivating audiences.
- Speaking to my personal summer process, Mestemaker was a top 50 overall prospect, but clustered in Tier 2 behind Arch Manning, Moore and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers.