𝑶𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓, 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒋𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒍. 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 $4.7 𝑴𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑵𝑰𝑳 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓, 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑵𝑰𝑳, 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑶𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂.

𝑶𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂 𝑺𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓, 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒋𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝑮𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒍. 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 $4.7 𝑴𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑵𝑰𝑳 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓, 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑵𝑰𝑳, 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑶𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂……….

Norman, OK –** In a time where the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities dominate the collegiate football narrative, one rising star has chosen legacy over luxury. Michael Hawkins Jr.,** the talented and poised quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners, has sent shockwaves through the college football world by turning down a massive **$4.7 million NIL deal** reportedly offered by the **Florida Gators** in a behind-the-scenes tampering attempt.

The offer, nearly **double his current NIL valuation**, came during what insiders believe was a covert effort to persuade Hawkins to enter the transfer portal and switch allegiances ahead of the 2025 season. Instead, the sophomore signal-caller chose to stand firm with the Sooners, citing loyalty, brotherhood, and unfinished business in Norman as his driving motivations.

I came to Oklahoma to build something, not bounce when things get tempting,” Hawkins told teammates, according to sources close to the program. “What we’re building here is special. I owe it to my coaches, my brothers on this team, and myself to finish what I started.”

This decision has not only solidified Hawkins’ leadership status in the locker room but has also catapulted him into the national spotlight as a role model for what some are calling “the new wave of committed athletes.”

Since the NCAA opened the door to NIL opportunities, student-athletes have found themselves navigating a complex new ecosystem where loyalty and ambition often collide. The transfer portal, paired with lucrative endorsements, has allowed many players to explore better financial or athletic situations elsewhere. However, the dark side of this evolution has been the increase in tampering—when schools or boosters unofficially court players under contract with other programs.

Though tampering violations are difficult to prove and rarely penalized, the Hawkins case has reignited conversations around the ethics and oversight of NIL recruitment practices. Florida has yet to issue a statement, while the NCAA remains silent. Still, whispers within the college football community suggest that this is far from an isolated incident.

Oklahoma Head Coach **Brent Venables** praised his young quarterback for his maturity and integrity.

Michael’s decision reflects the kind of man he is,” said Venables in a press conference. “In an environment where big money talks loud, he let his actions speak louder. He’s a Sooners leader through and through.”

The reaction from fans has been equally passionate. Twitter and Instagram exploded with praise, with hashtags like #SoonerLoyalty #HawkinsFaithful, and TrueToOU trending across the region. Alumni, current students, and even rival fans took to social media to tip their hats to Hawkins’ commitment.

“I’ve been a fan of Oklahoma football for 30 years,” one fan posted. “Michael Hawkins Jr. just became one of my all-time favorite Sooners—not for his throws, but for his heart.”

Teammates have also spoken out in support of their QB, reinforcing the impact his decision has had on team morale heading into the upcoming season.

He’s the real deal, on and off the field,” said a Sooners offensive lineman. “When your leader turns down $4.7 million to stay with the squad, you run through a wall for that dude.

With Hawkins Jr. staying put, the Sooners’ quarterback room remains one of the most promising in the SEC. His talent, combined with a deep receiving corps and a rejuvenated offensive line, positions Oklahoma as a serious contender not just in conference play, but on the national stage.

The move also sets a tone for the rest of the roster. As NIL deals continue to tempt players away from their commitments, Hawkins’ example becomes a rallying point—a reminder that some goals go beyond money and fame.

We talk a lot about culture,” Coach Venables added. “Michael just gave us the best culture speech ever—without saying a word.”

In a sport increasingly defined by statistics, contracts, and transactions, Michael Hawkins Jr.’s loyalty is a rare and welcome narrative. His rejection of a life-changing offer for the sake of commitment, growth, and purpose is resonating far beyond Norman.

While Florida may regroup and pursue other targets, and other NIL deals may inevitably knock on Hawkins’ door again, one thing is now clear: this quarterback plays for more than just a paycheck. He plays for pride, principle, and the people around him.

And for that, Oklahoma—and college football as a whole—might be better because of it.