Oklahoma State Names Captains for 2026 Football Season

The first captains of the Eric Morris Era of Oklahoma State football have been announced.

Seven days out from the Cowboys’ season-opener in Tulsa, the program announced that Drew Mestemaker, Lachie Pozzobon, Quinton Hammonds, Caleb Hawkins, Jacob Sexton, Ethan Wesloski and Jaleel Johnson have been named captains.

Here’s a breakdown of each guy.

Mestemaker: You probably know who Drew Mestemaker is by now, but if not, he led the nation in passing as a redshirt freshman at North Texas last season, throwing for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns. That came after Mestemaker wasn’t a starting quarterback in high school and walked on at UNT in 2024.

Pozzobon: An Australian punter who transferred from Stephen F. Austin this offseason, Pozzobon is 6-foot-4 with a mullet and a mustache. He was an FCS Football Central Freshman All-American last season, punting 53 times for 2,217 yards (41.8 average). That Stephen F. team went 11-3 and made the FCS playoffs. He seems to be fitting in nicely in Stillwater, being named captain and earlier this week saying he’ll “run through a brick wall” for the team.

Hammonds: A 6-foot-1, 206-pound safety, Hammonds also comes over from North Texas. As a sophomore last season, he made 53 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and picked off two passes. He also played regularly as a true freshman in 2024, where he made 52 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and picked off a pass.

Hawkins: Again, you’re probably already quite familiar with Hawkins, but if not, he led the country in touchdowns scored as a true freshman at North Texas last season, finishing the year with 1,434 rushing yards, 370 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns. Like Mestemaker, Hawkins was an unheralded recruit coming out of North Rock Creek, but now he returns to his home state as one of the Cowboys’ stars.

Sexton: Another in-state standout, Sexton, a 6-foot-6, 328-pound offensive lineman, comes to the Cowboys after spending the past four seasons at Oklahoma. He got on the field regularly at OU but battled the injury bug constantly. Sexton is expected to start at left tackle, defending Mestemaker’s blindside, this season.

Wesloski: Another UNT transfer, Wesloski led the Mean Green D with 113 tackles last season, which included nine tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in the end zone. Wesloski is a 6-foot-1, 234-pound redshirt senior.

Johnson: One of OSU’s few returners, Johnson was labeled the Cowboys’ most disruptive defender in the spring by Morris. A 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end, Johnson played in just four games last season because of injury and finished with 16 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.