University of North Texas Athletics

Mestemaker’s Historic Performance Earns Multiple Weekly Awards
10/29/2025 9:00:00 AM | Football
Redshirt freshman wins multiple weekly awards for record-setting performance
DENTON – After passing for a school and American Conference record 608 yards in a 54-20 win over Charlotte, redshirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker has earned multiple national awards, including Associated Press National Player of the Week and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week among others.
Mestemaker had a historic performance in the win going 37 for 49 with 608 yards passing and four touchdowns. Mestemaker's monster night marked the most yards an FBS player has thrown for since K.J. Costello threw for 623 yards for Mississippi State against LSU in 2020 and is the 16th best passing yardage total in FBS history.
For his efforts, Mestemaker was named AP National Player of the Week. He is the first UNT player to earn the honor since Walter Chapman was named AP Lineman of the Week on Oct. 11, 1975.
Mestemaker's 608 yards are the second-most by a freshman or redshirt freshman in FBS history behind Nevada's David Neill, who threw for 611 in a loss to New Mexico State on Oct. 10, 1998.
The redshirt freshman from Austin, Texas, also added a litany of awards to his ledger including Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week, Manning Award Star of the Week, Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 list, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week, Marty Burlsworth Walk-On of the Week and American Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
He is the first UNT player to win American Conference Offensive Player of the Week since Chandler Morris won the award on Sept. 30, 2024.
This season, Mestemaker is 195 for 286 with 2,468 yards through the air and 21 passing touchdowns. He ranks inside the top-six in FBS in passing TDs (4th), passing yards (2nd), points responsible for (4th) and total offense (6th).
The Mean Green return to action Saturday at 11:00 AM against Navy inside DATCU Stadium in a matchup that features the only two FBS teams with seven wins of the week.
Mestemaker had a historic performance in the win going 37 for 49 with 608 yards passing and four touchdowns. Mestemaker's monster night marked the most yards an FBS player has thrown for since K.J. Costello threw for 623 yards for Mississippi State against LSU in 2020 and is the 16th best passing yardage total in FBS history.
For his efforts, Mestemaker was named AP National Player of the Week. He is the first UNT player to earn the honor since Walter Chapman was named AP Lineman of the Week on Oct. 11, 1975.
Mestemaker's 608 yards are the second-most by a freshman or redshirt freshman in FBS history behind Nevada's David Neill, who threw for 611 in a loss to New Mexico State on Oct. 10, 1998.
The redshirt freshman from Austin, Texas, also added a litany of awards to his ledger including Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week, Manning Award Star of the Week, Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 list, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week, Marty Burlsworth Walk-On of the Week and American Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
He is the first UNT player to win American Conference Offensive Player of the Week since Chandler Morris won the award on Sept. 30, 2024.
This season, Mestemaker is 195 for 286 with 2,468 yards through the air and 21 passing touchdowns. He ranks inside the top-six in FBS in passing TDs (4th), passing yards (2nd), points responsible for (4th) and total offense (6th).
The Mean Green return to action Saturday at 11:00 AM against Navy inside DATCU Stadium in a matchup that features the only two FBS teams with seven wins of the week.
-- GMG --
Players Mentioned
Spring Football 2026 Media Availability 3/25 | Mean Green FB
Wednesday, March 25
Spring Football 2026 Media Availability 3/20 | Mean Green FB
Friday, March 20
2026 National Signing Day Press Conference | Mean Green FB
Wednesday, February 04
Glory To The Green: New Mexico Bowl Recap vs SDSU | Mean Green FB
Tuesday, December 30









