Drew Mestemaker Insists He’s a Regular Guy, His Constant Praise of Miles Coleman Proves It

STILLWATER — Drew Mestemaker is already one of the all-time college football stories.

It’s borderline unthinkable to imagine a guy who couldn’t earn a start at quarterback in high school would start for any FBS program. Mestemaker’s emergence as one of the top options in the transfer portal and his contract, reportedly worth $7 million, make the whole thing sound even more made-up.

“I was paying to play football (as a walk-on) two years ago,” Mestemaker said. “And so I, at the end of the day, just want to play.”

Somehow, the craziest part of Mestemaker’s story might be hearing him talk because he doesn’t sound like a guy who just led the nation in passing yards during his first season as a starter. He sounds a lot like a guy who has yet to make a name for himself.

He sounds genuine.

“We’re all in this together, and it’s this team now,” Mestemaker said. “It’s not, you know, who I’ve known before (from North Texas). Like, I’ve known Miles Coleman since I was 5 years old. And I treat him just the way I treat, you know, new receivers and new guys that I meet for the first time. So I just try to, you know, be that same guy every day when I show up.”

Mestemaker’s genuineness was overpowering during his first press availability as a Cowboy in part because he couldn’t help but mention Coleman numerous times. Which makes sense, what kid doesn’t dream of playing major college ball with their childhood friend? It sounds like a sports movie come to life.

When Eric Morris spoke earlier this month, he described Mestemaker as basically the secret ingredient to Oklahoma State’s ability to learn the offense before spring practice even begins. As is probably becoming increasingly apparent, Mestemaker didn’t speak quite so highly of himself when asked about that.

“I think it’s my role to just get the receivers on the same page of how I see it,” he said. “Because I know guys like Miles Coleman, who I’ve known since I was 5  years old. Like we see it the same way. So, I need to get everyone on that same page of how I see it and how they see it as well.​”

Coleman finished the 2025 season second in targets (58) and third in both receptions (47) and yards (550) for North Texas.

Of course, Mestemaker couldn’t bring up his childhood friend unprompted multiple times without getting asked how they met.

“Well, we live in the same neighborhood, and we’re playing flag football against each other, and Miles is always the hot topic,” Mestemaker said. “You know, leading up to high school, he was the guy that everyone knew once he got to high school, he was going to make noise. And so to get that opportunity to grow up with him, and then go to the same college as him, at North Texas, somehow, even though he was the best player on our team, and, you know, I was punting and playing DB. It was awesome to kind of continue our journey together.”

Hearing it live, Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback, listed inside the top 10 of the transfer portal rankings, sounded like he still felt lucky to be playing with a guy ranked more than 500 spots below. Not that Mestemaker would ever think of it that way.

The way he talks, it sounds like he genuinely might not know where he ranked much less anyone else on the team. Mestemaker left no doubt that he’s not looking to be treated as anything special by his teammates.

“I try to make it known that I’m just a normal guy,” Mestemaker said. “I love playing football, I love hanging out with friends, I love golfing, going out with the guys. At the end of the day that’s really what makes the relationships that much better. Whenever you can get on your boy for doing something wrong it’s different from getting on someone just because you’re in a leadership position.

“It’s easier to get on someone whenever they look at you as a friend and a role model, someone they actually enjoy being around.”