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Josh Pate thinks the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the nation's best quarterbacks

Josh Pate thinks the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the nation's best quarterbacks

USA Today3 days ago
The 2025 college football season begins in less than two weeks, and between now and then, fans are trying to predict how their favorite teams and players will perform this year. The Oklahoma Sooners are gaining some traction, but many are taking a wait-and-see approach with the Sooners. OU was left just outside the US LBM Coaches Poll last week.
The Oklahoma Sooners begin their season in less than three weeks, with OU fans ready to get the bad taste of 2024 out of their mouths. Shaking up the offense this offseason gives Oklahoma a chance to improve in a big way in 2025.
One of the biggest changes was at starting quarterback, where John Mateer steps into the spotlight in Norman after transferring in from Washington State. He's received plenty of offseason hype, with many believing he could be one of the best players in the sport this year.
That's certainly the case for Josh Pate, the host of "Josh Pate's College Football Show". He named his top four college football quarterbacks heading into this season, and Mateer ranked second, behind only Florida's DJ Lagway. Mateer was ranked ahead of Clemson's Cade Klubnik and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers.
I'm going to tell you who's close behind (Lagway), though, that many, many more people are sleeping on, is John Mateer at Oklahoma. I've bought all the John Mateer stock. I've got a John Mateer Heisman Trophy ticket in my back pocket. I couldn't be higher on him ... There are people out there who question his mechanics who have not the slightest clue about quarterback mechanics or throwing mechanics. I'll tell you what, you want to see a sidearm throw? You want to see different arm angles? Watch him on the run. Watch him throw the ball on the run. Watch the accuracy. Mid-range, downfield, watch the accuracy. - Pate, Josh Pate's College Football Show
Pate highlighted Mateer's ability to improvise when things breakdown, calling his off-script playmaking "elite." One of the biggest talking points surrounding Mateer is how he'll be able to adapt to the SEC. But Pate believes the conference will struggle to contain John Mateer.
That's high praise for Mateer, who followed his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from WSU to Oklahoma this offseason. One of the biggest questions surrounding that duo has been the SEC adjustment, but Pate seems to think that the league will have to adjust to them.
The Sooners kick off the season on Saturday, August 30th at home against Illinois State.
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 Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
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