'John Mateer is one of the most creative guys in College Football' – Analyst breaks down how Sooners' new QB will save the offense
While they had a pretty bad 2024 season, it's pretty clear that the Oklahoma Sooners found a way to win the 2025 offseason. Now, sure, none of that means anything if it doesn't translate on the field, but the moves they made were spectacular. The Sooners lost a ton of players to the transfer portal, […]
While they had a pretty bad 2024 season, it's pretty clear that the Oklahoma Sooners found a way to win the 2025 offseason. Now, sure, none of that means anything if it doesn't translate on the field, but the moves they made were spectacular.
The Sooners lost a ton of players to the transfer portal, but then they went right back and hit it hard themselves. They were able to not only replace everyone they lost. but also get better roster wise in the wide receiver room, on the offensive line, the running back room, and a few others.
After adding offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the former Washington State OC, the number one player in the transfer portal followed him, his former quarterback at Washington State. John Mateer, the guy who played backup to Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 pick to the Tennessee Titans just a month ago, had a stellar season last year.
When you break down Mateer's stats from 2024, he was really one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But, he didn't play great competition, so that is the one knock on him that makes him more of a question heading into the 2025 season. But one college football analyst is already sold on Mateer completely fixing the offense.
Now, last year, what was one of the major problems with the offense? Got to protect the quarterback? Some of that you couldn't protect the quarterback, some of that your quarterback couldn't protect himself. That was a big reason why you went to Michael Hawkins Jr. because of his mobility. John Mateer, when you turn on the tape and watch that dude play, he deals with pressure, I think, as well as anyone else in college football. First is he has a great knack for finding the answer in a pressure… The fact that he's brought over that system from Oklahoma with him and Ben Arbuckle that's going to serve him well. I have to believe that Oklahoma is going to cut that sack rate number in half. Last year was 13%. If you cut that sack rate number in half a year ago, how much better is Oklahoma? I don't know, but I don't think they're losing seven games, I'll say that much… John Mateer is one of the most creative players in college football. – On3 analyst J.D. PicKell
When you watch the film from last season, Washington State ran into a few plays where the opposing team's defense sent a MIKE linebacker or a DB off the edge, and Mateer, as cool, calm and collected as he is, just stayed composed, takes the hit, and delivers an accurate pass, or he’s quick enough to release the ball before the pressure arrives. And he did that time and time again, and that's with a worse offensive line and a worse receiving corps, granted, worse competition he's playing, too.
Mateer is coming into a situation where everyone is desperate to get it right, get it fixed. There are people whose jobs are at risk, so bringing Mateer in has to work. And, they are confident that it will work. Then again, can it get much worse than it was last season?
Mateer will be one of the many reasons the offense gets fixed.
John Mateer is already showing off a glimpse of what’s to come for the Sooners at the QB position
The Sooners have to be excited.
