Childhood Friends Reunited at North Texas Now Lead Oklahoma State Offense
The short version
- Mestemaker and Coleman have been friends since age 5 and first played college football together at North Texas.
- Mestemaker had planned to walk on at Sam Houston before a late North Texas walk-on offer.
- North Texas coaches consulted Coleman before offering Mestemaker a walk-on spot.
- Coleman caught his first Oklahoma State touchdown against Murray State.
- Oklahoma State opens Big 12 play Saturday at West Virginia.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker and receiver Miles Coleman, friends since age 5, credit their bond for a journey that carried them to Stillwater.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker and receiver Miles Coleman have known each other since they were 5 years old, a friendship built on the football field long before either reached college. Their shared path nearly split after high school, when Coleman committed to North Texas and Mestemaker intended to walk on at Sam Houston State.
For months after the 2023 season, Mestemaker appeared bound for Sam Houston. Even though he had never started a varsity game at quarterback for Vandegrift High School in Austin, his coaches vouched for him with Sam Houston assistants, and the program offered a walk-on spot under then-head coach K.C. Keeler.
North Texas entered the picture while Mestemaker was training in the Dallas area after his senior season. Quarterbacks coach Sean Brophy liked what he saw, and he and head coach Eric Morris contacted Coleman for a character reference. Coleman described Mestemaker as a team-first player and a talented quarterback, and North Texas extended a walk-on offer.
Coleman spent roughly a week lobbying his friend to join him. Mestemaker eventually called to say he was heading to North Texas, a decision influenced by Morris' Air Raid-style offense and the chance to play alongside his best friend. The two later landed at Oklahoma State, where Coleman caught his first touchdown as a Cowboy last week against Murray State and is one of four receivers with at least 10 catches and 100 yards this season.
The roommates are now preparing for the Big 12 opener Saturday at West Virginia. Coleman said it is hard to believe how their journey has unfolded, and Mestemaker said continuing their journey together has been special.
