Jess Hoel dropped back to pass during a team drill at the beginning of fall camp last August. Hoel’s brother, incoming freshman Jaxon, joined the starting defense to fill in for an injured defensive back. Jess decided to test his younger brother, and Jaxson responded with an interception.

“He read it perfectly, and he picked me off,” Jess said. “I mean, he blew up. Everyone in Abilene knew Jaxon Hoel just picked off his brother. It was wild to watch. I never dreamed I’d throw him an interception, and he let me know about it.”

For McMurry head coach Jordan Neal, that moment was something he envisioned a few years ago. Meanwhile, the Hoel family had never imagined that moment possible a few years ago.

After leading Abernathy to a 12-2 record and the regional championship game, Jess Hoel chose to begin his collegiate career at Navarro. However, junior college football players are typically there for one reason: to get their numbers in hopes of receiving an FBS offer. Jess missed the camaraderie developed when players work together for a common cause, so he entered the transfer portal after a redshirt season.

“When I heard that Jess was planning to leave Navarro and looking for a new opportunity, I called him up and invited him to check out our campus on his way home,” Neal said. “I think he realized that we needed a guy at quarterback and saw an opportunity to play immediately and lead the team.” 

“It was kind of a no-brainer after I felt the element of being part of a family and playing for something bigger than an individual,” Hoel recalled. “I called Coach Neal and committed after I got home and told my parents that I was transferring to McMurry.”

While Hoel saw an opportunity to play quarterback immediately at McMurry, Neal had recruited a few quarterbacks in hopes one of them would seize the position.

“We felt like we had some arms in our corral, and the competition was wide open,” Neal said. “But I had a good feeling about him, knowing he’s smart, and he emerged pretty quickly and showed us he’s the guy that can be our starter.”

One thing you should know about Jess Hoel is that he is one of the most determined young men you will ever meet. When he sets his mind to do something, it often happens.

“I believe that when I set my mind on something, the only thing that will ever stop me is myself," he said. "It’s a part of my competitive nature. I took the competition personally and aimed to make sure they knew as quickly as possible that I was the guy to lead this team.”

His coach found out about that competitive nature in a hurry.

“If you don’t know him, you would say he doesn’t lack confidence, and that’s certainly true,” Neal said. “He’s not cocky or arrogant by any stretch, but he believes in his abilities and he is highly competitive. He hates to lose.”

By the time the 2023 season began, Hoel was entrenched as the starting quarterback. As a redshirt freshman, Hoel set a school record for completion percentage in a season (69.49 percent) while leading the War Hawks to their first winning season since 2012. Yet, that wasn’t good enough for Jess Hoel.

He attacked the offseason the way he attacks everything in life and spent part of it under the tutelage of former Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal in Houston. The training included weights, conditioning, endurance, recovery, and skill work. The results are apparent when looking at Hoel, who added 15-20 pounds during the offseason.

“He’s improved so much because he’s committed to eating right and getting himself in better shape,” Neal said. “His arm is stronger, and he has more core strength, speed, and explosiveness.”

The hard work is apparent on the field this season, with McMurry one win away from surpassing last year’s 6-4 mark and claiming a share of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. It’s been a remarkable improvement for a program that last shared a conference title in 1983.

Hoel’s work landed him a spot on McMurry’s Arrowhead Council this season. He is the only sophomore on the leadership council and is also a team captain.

“The Arrowhead Council is based on their body of work from their performance on the field last year to everything in the offseason and during spring practice," Neal said. "That’s where he earned that honor. Eight of the 12 on the council are seniors, two are juniors, and he’s the only sophomore. He’s got a sweet mustache, too.”

Hoel isn’t only known for his playmaking ability on the field. He’s also known for his exquisite mustache.

“When we’re on the road, the referee will say, ‘Hey, mustache man, you want to make the call? I love your mustache.’ Guys will tackle me, slap me on the back, and tell me my mustache is a killer,” Hoel said. “I don’t know what started the whole mustache deal, but I did it last year, and kind of liked it, so I ran with it for no particular reason.”

The Hoel family moved to Albany after Jess transferred to McMurry, and Jaxon helped lead the Lions to their second consecutive Class 2A Division II state title last year. Jaxon’s decision to play alongside his brother for the War Hawks was a dream come true for Joel.

“I never thought I’d experience playing with my brother again,” Jess said. “What’s the chance that two brothers have an opportunity to go to the same college and play football together?”

A few plays after Jaxon intercepted the pass from his brother during fall camp, Jess challenged him again. Jess earned bragging rights this time by completing a touchdown pass against his younger brother.

“I went to go find him, and he was running off, hiding behind people, trying to avoid letting me tell him about it,” Jess said. “I tell him to stay on his side of the ball at every opportunity. If I’m running around the field talking to teammates and see him, I’ll give him a shoulder check to let him know I’m there. It’s that brotherly love that’s never going to fade. We’ll still compete against each other in 20 years when we have a wife and kids. It’s always a competition between us, no matter what.”

Neal knows the brothers have a special bond and is glad to see them living out their college football dream together.

“Jaxon coming down the road to join his brother here at McMurry is special, and it’s special to their parents, Jarrod and Samantha,” he said. “They get to see their kiddos play at the same place every Saturday.”

As for the competition between the brothers, "It’s all love,” Neal said, laughing.