Mateer matters: Sooners aim to rebound with high-powered QB
29 minutes ago by Matt Byrne
Washington State quarterback John Mateer (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)Washington State quarterback John Mateer (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
ATLANTA — Out with one quarterback and in with the next.
After losing Jackson Arnold to the transfer portal, the Oklahoma football team cycled in Washington State’s John Mateer to try to steer its offense in the right direction and to postseason wins.
Oklahoma’s 24 points per game in 2024 — its inaugural season in the SEC — ranked 97th in the nation. The Sooners finished 6-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play. That’s miles behind their 41.7 points per game (fourth nationally) and 10-3 record in 2023 while still in the Big 12.
Regardless, the end result has always been the same under Coach Brent Venables: three straight bowl losses as he enters his fourth season. Venables hired Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to keep the connection with Mateer intact. The redshirt junior from Little Elm, Texas, passed for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns to 7 interceptions last season with the Cougars. He ranked eighth nationally in passing efficiency, right behind Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who played two seasons with the Sooners.
“He’s a guy that deeply cares,” Venables said about Mateer on July 16 at SEC media days. “Turned down more money to go elsewhere because of belief and vision in the program. A connection to Coach Arbuckle. This is a guy that wants to win at the highest level. … A guy that leads from the front. … A great competitor. Super athletic. Throws the ball really well on the run. Makes a lot of good decisions. Very self-deprecating. Likes to have fun. Can laugh at himself.”
Mateer’s passing stats mimic Gabriel’s from his 2023 season with Oklahoma. Gabriel, a 2024 Heisman trophy finalist, finished 2023 with a 69.3% completion rate, 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns, which led not only the Big 12, but also the Sooners back to double-digit wins. Venables is hinging on Mateer being able to make the transition to the SEC — and bringing pieces of the Courgars’ sixth-ranked scoring offense, too. Mateer also rushed for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns last season
Leave a Reply