Caleb Hawkins enters 2026 as PFF's highest-graded returning running back. After leading the FBS with a 94.1 rushing grade and 25 touchdowns while forcing 86 missed tackles, the Oklahoma State transfer is earning national recognition before his first snap in Stillwater.
Is Caleb Hawkins the best running back in the Big 12 entering 2026? š
The national recognition continues to pile up for Caleb Hawkins.
The Oklahoma State running back was recently recognized by Pro Football Focus as the highest-graded returning running back in college football for the 2026 season.
At this point, the hype surrounding Hawkins is becoming difficult to ignore.
Hawkins earned a 94.1 PFF rushing grade during his true freshman season at North Texas, the highest mark among all FBS running backs in 2025. It was also the highest rushing grade by a true freshman since PFF began charting college football in 2014.
The advanced numbers explain why.
Hawkins led the FBS with 25 rushing touchdowns, while his 1,431 rushing yards and 86 missed tackles forced both ranked inside the top five nationally, according to PFF's Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick.
PFF's scouting report believes Hawkins could bring that same impact to Stillwater.
"Hawkins took the American Conference by storm as a true freshman last season and aims to do the same for Oklahoma State this year."
Wasserman and Chadwick also pointed directly to Hawkins' familiarity with quarterback Drew Mestemaker and wide receiver Wyatt Young, writing that the trio "should bring major improvement to the Cowboys offense."
Now, Hawkins is bringing that production to Oklahoma State.
He followed head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Stillwater as part of a massive offensive overhaul that also included Mestemaker and Young.
The trio already knows Morris' system.
More importantly, they've already proven they can produce in it.
North Texas led the FBS in scoring at 45.1 points per game during its 12-win season in 2025, with Hawkins serving as one of the offense's biggest weapons.
For Oklahoma State, his arrival couldn't come at a better time.
The Cowboys are attempting to rebuild an offense that struggled to consistently move the football last season. Hawkins immediately gives Morris a proven playmaker in the backfield and someone capable of changing a game every time he touches the ball.
The national accolades are already starting to reflect those expectations.
Earlier this offseason, Hawkins was named a Walter Camp Preseason Second Team All-American.
He's also Oklahoma State's highest-rated player in EA Sports College Football 27 with a 91 overall rating.
PFF also ranked Hawkins No. 36 overall in its College 50, a ranking of the top players in college football entering the 2026 season.
Now, PFF has him as the highest-graded returning running back in the country.
That's multiple forms of national recognition before Hawkins has even played his first snap at Boone Pickens Stadium.
A video game rating doesn't determine what happens on Saturdays.
Neither does a preseason All-America team.
A PFF grade from last season won't automatically translate against Big 12 defenses.
But when every evaluation continues pointing in the same direction, it's worth paying attention.
Caleb Hawkins isn't arriving in Stillwater as an unknown transfer hoping to earn a role.
He's arriving as one of the most highly regarded running backs in college football.
If his production follows him from North Texas to Oklahoma State, the Cowboys may have one of the best players in the country lining up in their backfield this fall.
