On Jan. 3, 2025, North Texas made a highly-publicized and unconventional decision at quarterback.
After yearlong all-conference starter entered the transfer portal, the Mean Green needed to call up a replacement for their First Responder Bowl against Texas State. Answering the call was true freshman Drew Mestemaker. While it’s not unheard of to start true freshmen quarterbacks, what was unprecedented is the fact it was Mestemaker’s first start at QB since ninth grade at Vandegrift High School. Instead,
Mestemaker started at punter and safety instead while backing up 2024 commit Deuce Adams.
Fast-forward to present-day and Mestemaker’s second start is on the horizon. The now-redshirt freshman won North Texas’ fall camp quarterback battle over Miami (FL) transfer Reese Poffenbarger, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Prior to landing at Miami, Poffenbarger starred as the FCS’s passing yards (3,614) and touchdowns (36) leader at Albany in 2023, earning FCS All-American honors. Poffenbarger arrived in Denton in December with 26 collegiate starts, all transpiring at Albany.
Mestemaker made five appearances as a true freshman walk-on, earning snaps as early as September thanks to lopsided non-conference results against Texas Tech and Wyoming. However, the First Responder Bowl was the quarterback’s magnum opus, completing 26-of-41 passes for 393 yards in his first start in four years. He delivered two touchdowns and two interceptions through the air while rushing for 55 yards and another touchdown. Bereft of his first team all-conference receiver DT Sheffield, Mestemaker kept the 15.5-point underdog Mean Green within striking distance, falling 30-28 to Texas State.
Mestemaker aims to sustain a North Texas passing attack which ranked fourth in the FBS with 328 yards per game. The Mean Green have boasted elite aerial production throughout the 2020s decade under former head coach Seth Littrell and current head coach Eric Morris, and Mestemaker aims to become the fourth different 3,300+ yard passer in four years, following Austin Aune, Chandler Rogers, and Chandler Morris.
The former walk-on will open the 2025 campaign at home against Lamar of the FCS, aiming to earn his first collegiate win as a starter.
