What ESPN expects from Oklahoma QB John Mateer in 2025
What ESPN expects from Oklahoma QB John Mateer in 2025
The Oklahoma Sooners made the biggest splash of the offseason when they brought in John Mateer in December. The nation's leader in total touchdowns had a strong first season as a starter at Washington State and followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman.
The two should help Oklahoma's offense be much better in 2025 than they were a year ago and for the Oklahoma Sooners to contend for a playoff spot, the offense will have to be respectable. During SEC play a season ago, the Sooners offense averaged just 13 points per game when you remove defensive touchdowns. That didn't cut it by a long shot and Oklahoma made necessary changes to rectify the situation.
But what can we expect from Mateer in a Sooners uniform? ESPN's Billy Tucker picked the top newcomer for each team in ESPN's top 25 and what we should expect this season.
Mateer will light up SEC scoreboards in 2025 and Oklahoma should bounce back. With weapons around him at wide receiver and a healthy Jaydn Ott to relieve some early-down pressure in the backfield, the offense should come out of the gate fast, particularly with Mateer's confidence and familiarity with the system. He's a quick-release rhythm passer who will spread the ball out decisively and accurately underneath and win on his strikes downfield. Mateer can run, too, which will complement this version of the Air Raid pass-heavy offense. The Sooners have much more depth up front to keep him upright, but Mateer will show more natural playmaking ability to extend plays and get out of trouble than Arnold did a season ago. - Tucker, ESPN
The Oklahoma Sooners offense will be really good this season. How good? That will depend a lot on the offensive line, a unit that had arguably its worst season in the Bill Bedenbaugh era due to injuries and inexperience. But having an experienced signal caller in an offense he's familiar with will help everyone from the offensive line to the wide receivers to the running backs.
If Mateer can even produce 75% of his 40 total touchdowns from a season ago, that would put him among the SEC leaders from 2024. Jalen Milroe led the SEC in total touchdowns last season with 36 (including 20 rushing touchdowns).
With the additions the Sooners made on offense and the continued development of Brent Venables' defense, Mateer doesn't have to have a super human Heisman season for the Sooners to significantly improve their win total. He and the offense simply have to compliment what Oklahoma's going to do on the defensive side of the ball.
However, with Mateer, Oklahoma has a chance to have one of the best offenses in college football in 2025.
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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