Hunter Watson News, Rumors, Updates - Sam Houston Bearkats

Entering transfer portal Watson announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal via his X account Thursday.

Impact Watson will enter the portal following two seasons with Sam Houston State. The 6-foot-3 quarterback appeared in seven games for the Bearkats in 2025, throwing for 1,108 yards and five touchdowns to four interceptions while accounting for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground as well. He will retain a single year of eligibility at his next destination.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Out for remainder of 2025 Watson (knee) is out for the rest of the 2025 season after undergoing knee surgery, per Sports of SHSU.

Impact Watson hasn't played since Week 10 against Louisiana Tech. The Bearkats' starter at the beginning of the season eventually gave way to Mabrey Mettauer and Landyn Locke, the latter of whom got the start in the upset win over Delaware. Locke looks poised to remain the Bearkats starter, while Watson finishes 2025 with 1,108 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions with 276 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

NOVEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Out for Week 12 Watson (knee) is out for Saturday's game against Delaware, Sports of SHSU reports.

Impact Watson's injury-related absence will continue in Week 12. Without him available against Delaware, Sam Houston will start either Landyn Locke or Mabrey Mettauer. Watson's focus shifts to Week 13 at Middle Tennessee State.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't play against Beavers Watson (knee) did not play in Saturday's 21-17 win over Oregon State.

Impact Watson, as expected, was sidelined in the close win over the Beavers. The starting quarterback will look to work back from his knee injury for next Saturday's game against Delaware. His practice availability should be the main indicator of whether he can play in the Bearkats' next game.

NOVEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to sit out Watson (knee) is expected to sit out Saturday's game against Oregon State, according to Sports of SHSU.

Impact Watson suffered a knee injury against LA Tech, and while he was listed as day-to-day, it seems he won't be able to suit up in this matchup. Mabrey Mettauer seems set to start in Hunter's place.

NOVEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Day-to-day with knee ailment Watson (knee) is day-to-day after getting knocked out of the Bearkats' game against Louisiana Tech, per Sports of SHSU.

Impact Watson's imaging came back negative after he banged up his knee, but he remains a question mark for Saturday against Oregon State. The quarterback has thrown for 1,108 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions this season. If he can't go, Mabrey Mettauer would likely take over at QB1.

NOVEMBER 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Throws INT in blowout loss Watson went 14-for-33 for 193 yards and an interception against La Tech on Friday. He also ran nine times for 65 yards.

Impact Watson was banged up in Sam Houston's last game, but thanks to a bye he could play. However, he didn't exactly play well. He now has seven total touchdowns and six total turnovers on the season.

OCTOBER 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Starting quarterback for Week 10 Watson (undisclosed) will be the Bearkats' starting quarterback for their upcoming game Friday at Louisiana Tech, Sports of SHSU reports.

Impact Resting multiple weeks benefited Watson, whose latest injury will not cause any DNPs. Between the Bearkats' last games, he logged 25 completed passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns.

OCTOBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Done for the day Watson (undisclosed) is out for the remainder of Wednesday's game versus UTEP, Adrian Broaddus of 600 ESPN El Paso reports.

Impact Watson was injured in the first half of Wednesday's contest and left the field, and the injury is serious enough for him to miss the rest of the game. He completed 13 of his 19 passing attempts for 161 yards and one touchdown, adding three yards on four rushing attempts. Mabrey Mettauer has taken over the offense in Watson's absence.

OCTOBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Throws three TDs Watson went 12-for-19 for 136 yards and three touchdowns against JSU on Thursday. He also ran 13 times for 52 yards, but fumbled twice, losing one.

Impact This was Watson's first game with multiple touchdowns. He has six touchdowns total (four passing, two rushing) but has five turnovers as well.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Garrison Rippa makes game-winning 52-yard field goal as Jacksonville State tops Sam Houston 29-27

Cam Cook rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns, and Garrison Rippa made a game-winning 52-yard field goal as time expired to give Jacksonville State a 29-27 victory over Sam Hous...

OCTOBER 10, 2025 • Associated Press

More turnovers than TDs Watson went 22-for-34 for 222 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against NMSU on Saturday. He also ran for 16 yards, but lost a fumble.

Impact Watson has been Sam Houston's starter when healthy, but for how much longer? This was his first passing touchdown on the season, but his third interception. Even when you throw in two rushing scores, that's not going to cut it. If only for a jolt, the winless Bearkats might try somebody else under center.

OCTOBER 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Throws INT in return Watson went 13-for-25 for 86 yards and an interception against Texas on Saturday. He also ran 15 times for 32 yards.

Impact Watson missed Sam Houston's last game with an undisclosed injury. He returned and made it through this game healthy. Given the circumstances, that's all the Bearkats could reasonably have hoped for.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy after bye week Watson (undisclosed) is healthy after Sam Houston's bye week, Sports of SHSU reports.

Impact Fortunately for Watson, Sam Houston's first bye week of 2025 was enough for the quarterback to recover from an undisclosed injury that cost him one game, Week 2 at Hawaii. The quarterback will look to bounce back, still looking for his first passing touchdown despite two games to get one. On the rushing side, Watson has fared much better, with 24 carries for 108 yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers under center.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Weaver passes for 294 yards and 3 TDs in 1st start, Hawaii beats Sam Houston 37-20

Luke Weaver made his first career start for Hawaii and finished with 294 yards passing and three touchdowns, Giovanni Iovino had a 41-yard pick-6, and the Rainbow Warriors beat Sam...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • Associated Press

Not playing vs. Hawaii Watson is not available to face Hawaii on Saturday due to undisclosed reasons, Stephen Tsai of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.

Impact The absence of Watson is significant for Sam Houston, as he has been the top option under center in the first two games. This means Mabrey Mettauer is expected to get the nod in Week 2, whereas Watson will aim to return to action against Texas on Sep. 20 after the bye week.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing vs. Hawaii Watson is not available to face Hawaii on Saturday due to undisclosed reasons, Stephen Tsai of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Shares the load at QB Watson went 11-for-22 for 101 yards and ran 10 times for 17 yards and a touchdown against UNLV on Friday.

Impact It seemed, during Week 0, like Watson had clearly won the QB battle over Mabrey Mettauer. However, in this game Mettauer saw plenty of time under center. Maybe new Sam Houston head man Phil Longo just figured the loss was locked in and wanted to see what Mettauer could do. It might be that the QB battle is back on, though.

AUGUST 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Colandrea accounts for three touchdowns as UNLV tops Sam Houston for a 2-0 start season

Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in his debut at UNLV and the Rebels beat Sam Houston State, 38-21, in the first meeting between the...

AUGUST 30, 2025 • Associated Press

Maverick McIvor accounts for 4 touchdowns as Western Kentucky tops Sam Houston 41-24

Maverick McIvor threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score as Western Kentucky opened the college football and Conference USA season with a 41-24 win over S...

AUGUST 24, 2025 • Associated Press

Clearly Sam Houston's starter Watson went 19-for-30 for 209 yards and an interception against WKU on Saturday, but he also ran 14 times for 91 yards and a score.

Impact New Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo did the co-starter thing on the depth chart. However, Watson saw all the action for the Bearkats with Mabrey Mettauer not contributing. You can expect Watson, Sam Houston's starter last season, to be under center against UNLV in the team's next game.

AUGUST 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as co-starter Watson is listed as a co-starter on Sam Houston's depth chart along with Mabrey Mettauer, per Sports of SHSU.

Impact Watson started for the Bearkats last season, tossing for 1,811 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 62.4 percent of his passes. He also added 647 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground. However, it appears he has yet to secure the starting job, as he's listed as an "OR" on the depth chart alongside Wisconsin transfer Mabrey Mettauer. Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo likely has a soft spot for Mettauer, as he recruited him to Madison when he was the Badgers' offensive coordinator. This competition could come down to the wire, and it's unclear at the moment who the Bearkats will trot out under center in Week 0 against Western Kentucky.

AUGUST 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Three total scores Watson completed 23 of 28 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's 31-26 victory over Georgia Southern. He also had 16 rushes for 24 yards with two touchdowns.

Impact Watson was crisp under center in the win over Georgia Southern, missing the target in just five of his throws while racking up three total scores. The junior signal-caller has one more year left of eligibility and finished the 2024 campaign having completed 62.3 percent of his throws while tossing 1,811 yards and a 12:8 TD:INT.

DECEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Two TDs, INT Watson went 19-for-33 for 202 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception against Liberty on Friday. He also ran 14 times for 33 yards.

Impact The Bearkats have nine wins and a chance to play for the Conference USA title, but Watson has been more helpful to his team in ways that aren't conducive to fantasy success. He's thrown 11 touchdowns against eight picks, though he has rushed for over 600 yards.

NOVEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Runs well, throws poorly Watson went 13-for-25 for 84 yards against JSU on Saturday, but ran 21 times for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Impact Watson is a run-first quarterback, and 100 yards and a touchdown is strong on that front. However, Sam Houston could have used more than 84 passing yards in a loss to JSU that really hurts its conference title hopes.

NOVEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

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GAME LOG

Garrison Rippa makes game-winning 52-yard field goal as Jacksonville State tops Sam Houston 29-27

Weaver passes for 294 yards and 3 TDs in 1st start, Hawaii beats Sam Houston 37-20

Anthony Colandrea accounts for three touchdowns as UNLV tops Sam Houston for a 2-0 start season

Maverick McIvor accounts for 4 touchdowns as Western Kentucky tops Sam Houston 41-24