Oklahoma State Running Back Caleb Hawkins Named Walter Camp Preseason All-American

Caleb Hawkins surprised a lot of people last season, but he won’t be sneaking up on anybody in 2026.

Hawkins, a sophomore running back at Oklahoma State, was named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American on Tuesday. Walter Camp released two teams. Hawkins was on the second and was one of four Big 12 players to be on either team, joining Baylor punter Palmer Williams (First Team), Cincinnati O-lineman Evan Tengesdahl (Second Team) and West Virginia running back Cam Cook (Second Team). The full teams are listed below.

Hawkins received one Division-I offer coming out of North Rock Creek High School in Shawnee. He took that offer to North Texas, where it was evident early on that he was better than his recruitment entailed.

He finished his true freshman season in 2025 with 29 total touchdowns, which led the country by five. He ran for 1,434 yards and 25 scores while catching another 32 passes for 370 yards and four more touchdowns.

After working his way up the depth chart, Hawkins eclipsed 100 rushing yards in six games last season including four instances of running for north of 180 yards. Against Navy, he ran for 197 yards and four touchdowns. Against UAB, he ran for 189 yards and five touchdowns. Against Temple, he ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns. And in UNT’s bowl win against San Diego State, Hawkins ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

Hawkins transferred to Oklahoma State this offseason along with many from North Texas after the university hired coach Eric Morris away from the Mean Green. Morris brought just about all of his staff with him to Stillwater, including running backs coach Patrick Cobbs.

“I grew up here,” Hawkins said in February. “This is my dream school. I was wanting to go here since I was little. Grew up watching people in Boone Pickens, all the greats, all the wonderful people that have came out of here.”

Walter Camp Preseason All-America Teams

First Team Offense
Quarterback — Arch Manning (Texas)
Running Back — Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri)
Wide Receiver — Malachi Toney (Miami), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)
Tight End — Trey’Dez Green (LSU)
Offensive Line — Carter Smith (Indiana), Trevor Goosby (Texas), Austin Siereveld (Ohio State), Anthonie Knapp (Notre Dame)
Center — Kade Pieper (Iowa)
Placekicker — Tate Sandell (Oklahoma)
First Team Defense
Defensive Line — Dylan Stewart (South Carolina), Colin Simmons (Texas), Tyrique Tucker (Indiana), Teitum Tuioti (Oregon)
Linebacker — Xavier Atkins (Auburn), Sammy Brown (Clemson), Rasheem Biles (Texas)
Defensive Back –Kelley Jones (Mississippi State), Leonard Moore (Notre Dame), Brandon Finney Jr. (Oregon), KJ Bolden (Georgia)
Punter — Palmer Williams (Baylor)
Kick Returner — Da’Realyst Clark (Kent State)

Second Team Offense
Quarterback — Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Running Back — Cam Cook (West Virginia), Caleb Hawkins (Oklahoma State)
Wide Receiver — Cam Coleman (Texas), KJ Duff (Rutgers)
Tight End — Jamari Johnson (Oregon)
Offensive Line — Evan Tengesdahl (Cincinnati), Wendell Moe Jr. (Tennessee), Jordan Seaton (LSU), Andrew Sprague (Michigan)
Center — Drew Bobo (Georgia)
Placekicker — Lucas Carneiro (Ole Miss)
Second Team Defense
Defensive Line — A’Mauri Washington (Oregon), Anthony Smith (Minnesota), David Stone (Oklahoma), John Henry Daley (Michigan)
Linebacker — Rolijah Hardy (Indiana), Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu (Notre Dame), Isaiah Jones (Indiana)
Defensive Back –Bray Hubbard (Alabama), Ellis Robinson IV (Georgia), Marcus Ratcliffe (Texas A&M), Bryce Fitzgerald (Miami)
Punter — Evan Crenshaw (Troy)
Kick Returner — Chauncy Cobb (Arkansas State)