Maealiuaki Smith Earns Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Honors

For the first time since the Cowboys’ Week 2 win against Arkansas, an Oklahoma State player was featured in the Big 12’s weekly awards.

True freshman quarterback Maealiuaki Smith was named the league’s Newcomer of the Week on Monday after the youngster kickstarted an OSU offense that had eclipsed the 30-point mark just once in Big 12 play before Saturday. OSU lost to Texas Tech 56-48 in a game where Smith threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns while running for another score.

Week 1⃣3⃣ #Big12FB Newcomer of the Week presented by @totinos

Maealiuaki Smith | @CowboyFB pic.twitter.com/ZnTKBr1yyx

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 25, 2024

It was Smith’s first career start after getting some mop-up duty in OSU’s two previous games. In his freshman season, Smith has completed 73% of his 45 pass attempts for 419 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Smith’s 316 yards Saturday were the most an OSU freshman has thrown for since Wes Lunt went off for 324 and 436 in the Cowboys’ 2012 season. He was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Pokes since Garret Rangel did in 2022.

Smith joined the program out of Junipero Serra High School in northern California. He was a three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class with offers to BYU, Florida State, Washington, Miami, Michigan State and others. In two seasons as a starter for Junipero Serra, Smith had a 25-2 record with more than 4,300 passing yards and 45 touchdowns.

Smith becomes the fourth Cowboy to earn a Big 12 weekly award this season. Trey Rucker was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after OSU’s Week 1 win against South Dakota State. Nick Martin earned the same honor the next week against Arkansas, and transfer edge rusher Obi Ezeigbo earned Newcomer of the Week honors for his performance against the Razorbacks.

Smith and the Cowboys close out their season on the road against Colorado at 11 a.m. Friday.