Oklahoma State adds former FCS standout QB Noah Walters to roster

Oklahoma State has added quarterback Noah Walters to its roster, per the team website. He previously played two seasons at North Alabama of the FCS.

Walters was the Phil Steele ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022 after throwing for 1,799 yards and 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He followed that up with 2,346 yards and 21 touchdowns to 13 interceptions as a sophomore in 2023, including tying the school single-game record with five touchdown passes against Austin Peay.

He spent 2024 at UCF but was not on the football team. Now he transfers to an Oklahoma State that has had some bad luck at the QB position to start the season.

Starting quarterback Hauss Hejny suffered a broken foot in the season opener and is out for an extended period of time. The Cowboys turned to Zane Flores in Week 2 against Oregon, but he threw for just 67 yards and two interceptions in a 69-3 loss.

Because Walters did not play in 2024, he will be immediately eligible to play beginning Friday as OSU is set to take on Tulsa. He should be expected to be the backup to Flores for that contest.

Interestingly enough, Walters already has a connection with Flores as both played high school football against each other in Nebraska. Walters attended Lincoln East High School and was named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021.

In addition to Noah Walters and Flores, Oklahoma State has a couple of true freshman quarterbacks on its roster in Banks Bowen and Mason Schubert. That, along with the injured Hejny, gives them five total QBs on the roster.

The Cowboys are set to kick off against Tulsa at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Perhaps then we’ll see Walters make his OSU debut.

Hauss Hejny injury update: Latest on Oklahoma State QB

Oklahoma State quarterback Hauss Hejny is expected to be out several weeks as he recovers from a left foot injury, sources tell On3’s Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos. The TCU transfer is expected to miss at least five weeks and undergo surgery. A date for a return remains unclear.

Hejny exited in the first half of Oklahoma State’s season opener against UT Martin. A former four-star recruit in the 2024 cycle, he played in four games a year ago before taking a redshirt.

Hejny was 5 of 10 for 96 yards and a touchdown in three drives Thursday night before his exit, rushing for 27 yards on four carries with a touchdown, too. Zane Flores came in for Hejny, leading Oklahoma State to a 27-7 win and throwing for 136 yards with a 65% completion percentage.

On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.