John Mateer included on ESPN's top 100, several Sooners snubbed
There's talent on both sides of the ball. On offense, it starts with John Mateer, who came in at No. 16 in ESPN's top 100 player rankings for the 2025 season. Among quarterbacks, he only ranks behind Clemson's Cade Klubnik and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier. Surprisingly, ESPN had him seven spots ahead of Texas' Arch Manning.
That speaks to the respect Mateer is garnering nationally after a 44-total touchdown season, which led the FBS. He's a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who can make plays on the run and will make life incredibly difficult for opposing defensive coordinators.
Mateer is getting a lot of love but was left off the preseason coaches' All-SEC team. Making the team were running back Jaydn Ott, defensive end R Mason Thomas, and longsnapper Ben Anderson.
Surprisingly, though, Ott and Thomas were left off the list of ESPN's top 100 players for 2025. Ott is widely considered one of the best running backs in college football despite a subpar 2024, where he played through an ankle injury on an undermanned Cal team.
Thomas is coming off a breakout season for the Sooners in 2024. He had nine sacks, 2.5 more than ESPN's No. 10 player, South Carolina's Dylan Stewart. Stewart is an incredible talent and undoubtedly worthy of being included on the list and even in the top 10. But to not even include Thomas? That's a huge oversight.
Thomas regularly saw double and triple teams because teams couldn't slow him down, especially at the end of games. Stewart played last year with three guys who were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, including one of the best defensive ends in college football, Kyle Kennard.
As much buzz as Oklahoma's getting this offseason, it's clear they still have a lot to prove in the eyes of many. And with the 2025 season just around the corner, the Sooners will have 12 opportunities to prove just how good they are.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
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