Just over a month after verbally committing to the University of Oklahoma, quarterback Gavin Frakes has elected to take his talents to the Big Ten—signing with Northwestern University on June 25, 2025 .
Frakes, a 6‑foot‑4, 232‑pound signal‑caller from Norman, Oklahoma, initially entered the transfer portal on April 21 and verbally pledged to the Sooners on May 22 . His commitment had been seen as a strong local storyline, returning home to compete for the Sooners. However, the local hero will now pursue a fresh opportunity at Northwestern under head coach David Braun.
A product of Norman North High School, Frakes boasts a strong high school résumé. As a senior, he threw for 2,207 yards and 24 touchdowns, while rushing for 785 yards and eight more scores, establishing himself as one of the top talents in the state .
His college journey began at New Mexico State, where he saw limited action in 2022—completing 55 of 110 passes for 736 yards, with four touchdowns and seven interceptions across 11 games, including five starts . Frakes sat out the 2023 season, then transferred to Virginia for the 2024 campaign. Despite the move, he did not log any game time with the Cavaliers . Seeking playing time, he re-entered the transfer portal in April of this year—leading to his brief commitment to Oklahoma.
While he would have been competing with four other quarterbacks—John Mateer (a Washington State transfer), Michael Hawkins Jr., Whitt Newbauer (from Mercer), and true freshman Jett Niu—Frakes ultimately opted for Northwestern .
The Wildcats, coming off an 8‑5 season and a Las Vegas Bowl victory in Braun’s first year, stumbled to a 4‑8 overall (2‑7 Big Ten) record in 2024, and missed the bowl season this year. Frakes will now compete in their quarterback room alongside SMU transfer Preston Stone and rising junior Jack Lausch.
For Northwestern, adding a hometown talent with starting experience could help rejuvenate a program in search of consistency. And for Frakes, the move offers a clearer path to the field—even if it means a longer distance from his Norman roots.