North Texas' Mestemaker enters portal after leading nation in passing

DENTON, Texas (AP) — National passing leader Drew Mestemaker said Monday that he is entering the transfer portal after the former walk-on's only season as the starter for No. 23 North Texas.

Mestemaker leads all FBS passers with 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns. The redshirt freshman completed 319 of 463 passes (68.9%) with nine interceptions as the Mean Green (12-2) set a school record for wins and missed making the 12-team College Football Playoff only after a loss to Tulane in the American Conference championship game.

The 6-foot-4 passer with three seasons of eligibility remaining is expected to be one of the top passers available when the portal officially opens Friday.

“This was not an easy choice. My time at North Texas has meant more to me than I can ever fully express,” Mestemaker said in a social media post. “North Texas was the only school that believed in me enough to give me an opportunity as a walk-on when others didn't and for that, this place will always hold a special place in my heart.”

After never starting a high school varsity game, Mestemaker's first start for North Texas came in the First Responders Bowl last season after starter Chandler Morris transferred to Virginia. Mestemaker threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns while running for 55 yards with another score in that game.

Eric Morris, his coach for both of his seasons at North Texas, is now at Oklahoma State, which hasn't won a Big 12 game the past two seasons. The Cowboys named him as their new coach in late November, and he took over in Stillwater after the Mean Green's loss in the American title game.

Mestemaker stayed and played in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, when North Texas beat San Diego State 49-47. He threw for 250 yards with three TDs and two interceptions.

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