What does the Oklahoma Sooners getting QB John Mateer mean for Michael Hawkins?
The Oklahoma Sooners have had players leave this offseason via the transfer portal, like every team, but have also had some players join. It's taken a while, but all they needed was for the first domino to fall, and ironically, that was a punter. Nonetheless, they are starting to get more and more players to […]
The Oklahoma Sooners have had players leave this offseason via the transfer portal, like every team, but have also had some players join. It's taken a while, but all they needed was for the first domino to fall, and ironically, that was a punter. Nonetheless, they are starting to get more and more players to commit to joining the Sooners.
The first few were two wide receivers and a few offensive linemen. But, the biggest was by far John Mateer, and he will be the biggest addition they have for the remainder of the offseason, no matter who else they bring in.
And, that's because Mateer is the highest-ranked player at any position in the entire transfer portal. Last season, Mateer played for Washington State where he registered 3,139 passing yards and 826 rushing yards, and recorded 44 touchdowns — 29 passing and 15 rushing — and threw just seven interceptions.
But, this puts things into question a bit for the Sooners. Now, this isn't a major issue or a major question that you will see a lot but it's certainly something that fans are asking.
What happens with true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins this next season, who will be a sophomore next year?
What's next for Michael Hawkins?
Well, it doesn't sound like Hawkins will transfer, but then again, with how crazy this day and age is of College Football with the transfer portal and NIL, everything could change.
Either way, the Sooners were going to add one eventually. For now, it's still the 2024 season, and there is one more game to be played.
“We can’t go into next year with two quarterbacks. I think that goes without saying. Mike is our quarterback (for the bowl game)… We love where he’s at," head coach Brent Venables said.
What we do know is that Hawkins welcomed the idea of another quarterback.
“I think we need another guy here. I’m ready [to compete]," Hawkins said days before the Sooners added Mateer. "I’m going to be at Oklahoma, this is where I want to be. This is where I want to be. I want to be the quarterback at Oklahoma."
Now, granted, that was before landing one of the best quarterbacks in the country last season. But, regardless, we know how Hawkins is. It feels like he will compete for the job if he doesn't get it, which he won't, as the Sooners are paying Mateer too much in NIL not to be a bench player, then maybe Hawkins just stays around for next year.
There are some thoughts that Mateer will be drafted next season. He is following a similar path that Cam Ward is on, as Mateer was once Ward's backup. If he has a big year for the Sooners in 2025, he could be drafted, and that would hand the keys over to Hawkins, who should be well-developed by then.
So to answer the question, of what's next — I'd say that Hawkins will be the backup. He will compete, and he will see about being the starter in 2026.
Future of the Sooners arrives as the top player in the transfer portal commits to Oklahoma
A sigh of relief after a massive pickup.
