Ready When Called
The Rise of Cole Birkhead: The wait. The preparation. The moment.
For most of the last two seasons, Memorial fans saw Joe Castles commanding the Maverick offense.
What they didn’t always see was the quarterback standing beside him — watching, learning, preparing, waiting.
Now, after years of development, senior quarterback Cole Birkhead is stepping into the role he’s patiently prepared for.
And if you ask him, the wait was worth it.
Learning While Waiting
Birkhead could have transferred. He could have chased immediate playing time.
Instead, he stayed.
“I stayed to learn and develop because that’s a great person to learn after in Joe,” Birkhead said. “And I had great coaches in Coach Castles and Coach Bindel. I felt like it was the best place to learn and develop.”
Every day beside Castles gave him a front-row seat to the mental side of quarterback play.
“I learned game sense from him — reading defenses, changing things at the line, understanding what the offense needed against certain coverages.”
There were moments of frustration.
“Definitely,” he admitted. “But I realized it would be worth it in the end.”
Now, he sees the payoff.
“I feel very prepared for my senior year. Experience while playing last year and really learning the game helped me a lot.”
Turning the Page
As Birkhead prepares for his first season as Memorial’s starting quarterback, he’ll do so without two of the coaches who helped shape his development.
Head Coach Marc Bindel and Offensive Coordinator / Quarterback Coach Josh Castles have both moved on, bringing a new chapter for the Maverick offense.
For some quarterbacks, that transition could be unsettling.
Not for Birkhead.
“It’s gone pretty well. We have a good replacement and head coach with Coach Dillard. He’s a really good coach.”
He sees continuity, not disruption.
“The coaches that stayed have helped keep it running, and the new ones coming in will help where they can and do what they need to do.”
The faces may be different.
The Standard remains the same.
The Night Everything Changed
His opportunity arrived against Plainview.
At first, nerves.
Then, confidence.
“I remember being nervous at first, but once the game started, I just felt confident and flowed with the game.”
That night didn’t just give him reps.
It gave him belief.
“It made me feel like I could definitely play at that level.”
Years of preparation suddenly became real.
Bigger. Stronger. Smarter.
Since arriving at Memorial, Birkhead has grown into a 6-foot-3 quarterback with the size, strength, and confidence to attack every area of the field.
“I can fit balls into places I probably couldn’t a couple years ago,” he said. “I’m also able to take more hits, stay in the pocket, and stay upright.”
But the growth isn’t just physical.
The quarterback position demands leadership.
And with a large senior class graduating, a new leadership group has emerged.
The New Leadership Core
When Birkhead talks about leadership, three names come up immediately:
Cordea Bradley
Reese Risner
Seth Roberson
Bradley and Risner have become important voices in the locker room.
Roberson anchors the offensive line at center — one of the most important positions on the field and a steadying force for the entire offense.
“They’re very vocal and very uplifting to the team,” Birkhead said.
For Birkhead, leadership isn’t about volume.
It’s about example.
“I want to be a leader that does it right, leads them in the right way, helps everyone know the standard and know what we have to get done.”
Offensive Coordinator Ben Nielson sees the same next step.
“The quarterback is always the face of the program. We want to see him spread his wings, take charge, and be vocal with the entire team.”
A Different Kind of Team
One word surfaced repeatedly during Birkhead’s interview:
Brotherhood.
When asked what makes this year’s team different, he didn’t mention schemes or statistics.
“Everyone is friends. We’re all in it together. There’s no animosity. There are no butting heads between teammates.”
Last year’s playoff loss in El Paso left a mark.
“We were very disappointed. I felt like eventually everyone was arguing and it just got bad from there.”
This year’s group is determined to move forward differently.
Together.
The Culture Memorial Has Built
Birkhead has been at Memorial since the beginning. He’s watched the culture grow from the ground up.
“I would describe it as a family. Everyone supports each other in sports and whatever activities the school does.”
He sees something rare for a young school.
“We’re all friends. There aren’t groups that don’t like each other. Everybody supports everybody.”
For a program entering only its third year, that identity matters.
The Family Behind the Quarterback
If you want to understand why Cole Birkhead carries himself the way he does — calm, steady, grounded — you don’t have to look far.
His family is woven into the fabric of Memorial.
His mother, Polly Birkhead, serves as a counselor on campus, a familiar face to students and a steady presence in the building.
His sister, MJ, is one of Memorial’s standout volleyball players — a competitor with the same quiet determination and work ethic that runs through the Birkhead household.
Like many Memorial families, the Birkhead’s haven’t just attended the school — they’ve helped build it.
A family photo in Memorial gear says everything.
This isn’t just Cole’s journey.
It’s theirs.
They’ve lived the long practices, the road trips, the celebrations, and the heartbreaks right alongside the program.
For a school built on connection and community, the Birkhead’s represent exactly what Memorial hopes to be.
Protecting the Standard
Birkhead believes Memorial’s coaches are already investing in the next generation.
“They’re helping the younger kids, getting them developed and ready, and setting a standard for all the kids coming in.”
It’s why his advice to a freshman quarterback sounds a lot like his own journey.
“It’s probably not going to go how you want at first, but eventually it will get there. It’s good that you’re not playing right away because you have a lot to learn.”
Wisdom earned through experience.
Film Room: What Coaches See
To better understand what makes Cole Birkhead effective, Offensive Coordinator Ben Nielson broke down three plays that highlight his growth as a quarterback.
Clip 1: Processing at Full Speed
Coach Nielson:
“Watch his eyes. He goes through his read. First read is covered, he gets to the next one immediately and throws it on time and on the move.”
What it shows: Processing. Progressions. Poise under pressure.
Clip 2: Accuracy Meets Mechanics
Coach Nielson:
“His footwork is really good here, and he finishes the ball exactly where we want it — outside shoulder, away from the defense. Next-level kind of stuff.”
What it shows: Footwork. Timing. Ball placement. The details coaches obsess over.
Clip 3: When the Play Breaks Down
Coach Nielson:
“This RPO kind of gets broken. He sees the receiver out of the corner of his eye. Now he’s off schedule, making a play with instincts. You want to see that.”
What it shows: Creativity. Instincts. The ability to operate when structure collapses.
Garrett Murray’s Analysis: Why Cole Birkhead Can Elevate the Memorial Offense
There are three things that stand out about Cole Birkhead that make me believe he’s ready to elevate the Memorial offense this season: Poise, Arm Strength, and Ability to Make Difficult Throws.
Poise
Think about this for a moment.
Lubbock Cooper leads Memorial 49–35 with just over two minutes remaining. Joe Castles goes down with a hand injury, and suddenly Cole Birkhead hears his name called.
He checks into the game and immediately completes a 10‑yard pass. Two plays later, he avoids a sack, steps up in the pocket, and fires a strike to Eric Powell for a 49‑yard touchdown.
There was no hesitation. No panic. No fear.
He looked like a quarterback who was ready for the moment.
The following week, Birkhead made his first career start on the road against a tricky Plainview team. Memorial needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and once again he delivered — completing 63% of his passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns.
No matter the situation, Cole remained calm and confident. He trusted himself, trusted his teammates, and played with composure.
That’s exactly what you want from your quarterback — someone who stays cool when the pressure rises. Cole carries himself that way.
Arm Strength
One of my favorite memories from last season came during pregame warmups.
I was watching Cole throw and talking with former Memorial head coach Marc Bindel. At one point, Coach Bindel said something along the lines of:
“He just makes it look effortless.”
That’s the perfect description.
When you watch Cole throw, the mechanics appear smooth and easy — but the football jumps out of his hand. The ball comes out with velocity, arrives on time, and he can push it down the field when needed.
That arm talent is a major asset for a Memorial offense that likes to attack vertically and create explosive plays through the passing game.
Ability to Make Difficult Throws
What impressed me most in the action we saw last season was Cole’s ability to make difficult throws look routine.
He can throw from multiple arm angles. He can throw off platform. He can make plays rolling to either side. He can move within the pocket and still deliver an accurate football.
Those are not easy skills to develop.
Think back to the touchdown pass against Lubbock Cooper. He avoids pressure from both sides, climbs the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield, and delivers a strike while on the move.
Most quarterbacks struggle to make that play.
For Cole, it looked natural.
His athleticism, arm strength, and ability to fit the football into tight windows allow him to create offense when a play appears to be breaking down. That’s what separates good quarterbacks from difference‑makers.
When a quarterback can extend plays and make throws that aren’t supposed to be there, drives stay alive, games swing, and seasons can change.
And that’s why I believe Cole Birkhead has the tools to elevate the Memorial offense in 2026.
What Fans Should Expect
Birkhead believes this offense has the pieces to be explosive.
He highlighted playmakers including:
Gage Wuthrich
Izaeah Foster
Micah Garcia
Krew Bailey
Reid Hancock
“They should expect a lot of points scored. A very fun team to watch. Explosive. Entertaining. Just all-around good football.”
He also thinks outsiders may be underestimating this group.
“A lot of us are younger and we don’t have as many returning starters, but I think we’re good where we are.”
Chasing Big Goals
Birkhead isn’t shy about his expectations.
Personal Goals
Challenge the Wichita Falls single-season touchdown record
Approach 3,000 passing yards
Establish himself as one of the area’s top quarterbacks
“I’d like to break the Wichita Falls touchdown record for a season. Probably close to 3,000 yards would be nice.”
Team Goals
Go undefeated
Make a state championship run
Limit self-inflicted mistakes
Lofty goals?
Sure.
But so was waiting three years for a chance.
Coach’s Assessment
When Coach Nielson talks about Birkhead, one quality stands out immediately.
Calm.
“The thing we’re probably most excited about with him is he’s so calm and cool. Nothing rattles the guy. You watch his feet in the pocket and he’s just back there confident.”
More Than Football
When asked what football has taught him, Birkhead didn’t hesitate.
“Patience.”
The answer came quickly, shaped by years of waiting and a few injuries along the way.
“Perseverance. Keep going. Don’t give up. Work hard.”
It’s the same message he now shares with younger players who find themselves waiting behind someone else.
“The wait is worth it. You’ll learn a lot when you’re waiting. It’s very good to sit there and wait instead of rushing into it and making a lot of mistakes.”
Few players can say that with more credibility.
Three years ago, Birkhead arrived at Memorial as a young quarterback with potential.
Today, he enters his senior season as the leader of the Maverick offense.
The waiting is over.
Now it’s his turn.
And when asked how he hopes people remember his time at Memorial, his answer sounded a lot like the player and person he has become.
“I hope they remember a good guy who made it fun to watch, kept everyone entertained, and was an example of what leadership should look like.”
Because sometimes leadership isn’t about how quickly you get your opportunity.
It’s about being ready when you’re called.
From the Feed:
Great addition and congrats to Makena- another Wood joins the fam-
Incredible honor and well deserved!
Congrats to Baker Nabors for snagging a foul ball at the College World Series and Boomer Sooner!
Memorial Mavericks Sports Network returns for its third season of Memorial Football coverage this fall.
Follow Memorial Mavericks Sports Network on Facebook and Instagram for game coverage, interviews, highlights, and breaking news throughout the season.
Have a great week and as always Mavs On Top!