Latest news with #Mateer
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
John Mateer loves Oklahoma's offensive weapons heading into 2025
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer addressed the media at SEC media days this week, and while much of the talk centered on what it's been like adjusting to his new team and his relationship with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, Mateer made sure to steer the conversation towards his weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Of course, OU didn't have very many offensive weapons to speak of last season, especially in the passing game. That has been one of the coaching staff's main priorities this offseason: bringing in players who can stay healthy and provide the offense with reliable production. But the Sooners still have some uncertainty about who the primary weapons will be this season when Arbuckle and Mateer are at the controls. One of the biggest non-Mateer roster additions of OU's entire offseason came in the spring transfer portal window. That came in the form of former Cal running back Jaydn Ott, who Mateer thinks brings a lot of versatility to the backfield and to the offense. "He's pretty good," Mateer said. "He's super dynamic, catch the ball, run the ball, blocking and everything that comes with playing running back, he's pretty good at it. Him and all the running backs are super good and real promising so far." Perhaps Oklahoma's biggest returning pass-catcher is wide receiver Deion Burks, who delayed going pro in favor of one more collegiate season. Burks dealt with multiple injuries last year, but hopes to break out in Norman in 2025. Mateer raved about the dynamic player and how resilient he has been. "I'm super proud of Deion," Mateer said. "He had a rough year last year, on and off the field. But he's super promising. He cares a lot about football, and he cares a lot about the Sooners. I'm super happy for him and proud of him, just where he's came with his body and his mind. He knows the game of football a lot better this year than he did last year. Super proud of him. I'm real excited to play with him." Another newcomer to the team who joined Ott in Oklahoma's spring transfer portal haul is former McNeese wide receiver Jer'Michael Carter. The big wideout hasn't been with the Sooners long, but Mateer likes what he sees from Carter and the rest of the WRs. "I really like J-Mike," Mateer said. "J-Mike loves being a Sooner and loves being in the building. With all of them, it's been promising. We spent a lot of time together on and off the field, spending a lot of time throwing the ball to each other and just learning how I think and how they think and what they like to run, what they don't like to run and how it should be ran. We've still got room to go, of course, but we'll get there." Mateer was also asked about the hype surrounding the 2025 OU offense, with many predicting things will be far better than they were in 2024. But he says that inside the building, the team isn't too concerned with the outside noise. "We don't really worry about it in the building," Mateer said. "I think we're all excited in our own, not because of what anybody on the outside says but because of the work we've put in. Personally, my confidence comes from the work I put in, and I think we've done a good job. I think we're going to do some good things. We've got a lot of good players, and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch." While this Sooner offense has a lot of unknowns, there's also the presence of solid potential. But Mateer knows he won't be able to do it alone. Hearing him speak glowingly about his confidence in his offensive weapons is what Oklahoma fans want to hear with a few weeks left until Week 1. 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.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN analyst ranks John Mateer ahead of Arch Manning for 2025
By the end of the week, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer may find himself a preseason All-SEC selection. For now, he'll have to settle - ahem - for being right next to the Heisman Trophy favorite. A day after On3's Andy Staples rated Mateer the fifth best quarterback in the SEC, ESPN college football analyst Jordan Rodgers did one better for the Washington State transfer. Rodgers slotted Mateer fourth, one spot ahead of Texas quarterback, and odds-on Heisman Trophy favorite, Arch Manning. Rodgers took heat, as he is wont to encounter, for Manning's placement, jokingly calling Manning "hot garbage." Regardless, Mateer has found himself consistently in the prognosticator crowd's top five. "I have John Mateer one spot ahead of Arch," Rodgers said. "I love this kid." Mateer led all of FBS last year in total touchdowns with the Cougars, throwing for 27 and running for 15. When his offensive coordinator at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle, left Pullman to take the same job at Oklahoma, Mateer followed him out the door. Along with California-Berkeley transfer Jaydn Ott at running back, the new-look Sooners offense has those crystal-ball lookers believing the Sooners will improve and could challenge for a College Football Playoff berth if things go just right. SEC media will vote on the league's preseason all-conference teams and projected order of finish later this week at the conclusion of media days. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
John Mateer earns high praise as Oklahoma enters new era, hoping to return to high Sooners standards
ATLANTA — The Oklahoma Sooners, a storied program with a legacy of seven national championships, have faced uncharacteristic struggles in recent years. After two 6-7 seasons in three years and a 13th-place finish in the SEC under coach Brent Venables, the Sooners hope to get back on track this season. New quarterback John Mateer, who transferred from Washington State, plays a key role in the program's plan to return to the top. Months into his tenure, he's earning praise from coaches and teammates alike. 'This is a guy that wants to win at the highest level. A connector. A guy that leads from the front. As he plays the game, he looks like he's in fast forward a lot of times. A great competitor. Super athletic. Throws the ball really well on the run. Makes a lot of good decisions,' Venables said at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. A strong quarterback is a key ingredient in the Sooners' past success. The QB room in Norman has had a star-studded lineup this decade, led by Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, first-overall pick Caleb Williams and dominant college QBs Spencer Rattler and Dillon Gabriel. High expectations coupled with an injured receiving corps proved to be an unfavorable combination for freshman Jackson Arnold, who transferred to SEC opponent Auburn after quarterbacking the Sooners' offense in 2024. Venables chose Mateer and defensive playmakers Robert Spears-Jennings and R Mason Thomas to represent the program at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Despite being on different ends of the field, Spears-Jennings and Thomas have identified Mateer's seamless transition into Norman and the traits that make him an ideal leader. 'He's integrated himself into the team smoothly. If he says he's anxious or he was a little nervous, he didn't look like he was to me,' Thomas said. 'It felt like he'd been here for four years.' Mateer isn't the only newcomer. Oklahoma picked up key pieces in the transfer portal and added five new coaches. One of those new coaches worked with Mateer as an offensive coordinator and QB coach at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle. 'I feel like with Arbuckle and John, they bring a different type of swag with them. I feel like our whole offense has embodied their swag and energy because once they score a touchdown, their whole side is over there running, celebrating with the guys, and that's what you need. You need energy. I feel like these guys here love playing football,' said Spears-Jennings. Arbuckle is one of the reasons for the quarterback's smooth transition. Instead of learning a new offense, Mateer built relationships with his new teammates. 'I was fortunate because I didn't have to learn a whole new offense. I was able to take time to learn the players that I was going to play with and build relationships with them in the locker room, hang out and help them learn the offense,' Mateer said. 'Building relationships is the most important thing to leading. You can't lead people you don't know.'
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
John Mateer earns high praise as Oklahoma enters new era, hoping to return to high Sooners standards
ATLANTA (AP) — The Oklahoma Sooners, a storied program with a legacy of seven national championships, have faced uncharacteristic struggles in recent years. After two 6-7 seasons in three years and a 13th-place finish in the SEC under coach Brent Venables, the Sooners hope to get back on track this season. New quarterback John Mateer, who transferred from Washington State, plays a key role in the program's plan to return to the top. Months into his tenure, he's earning praise from coaches and teammates alike. 'This is a guy that wants to win at the highest level. A connector. A guy that leads from the front. As he plays the game, he looks like he's in fast forward a lot of times. A great competitor. Super athletic. Throws the ball really well on the run. Makes a lot of good decisions,' Venables said at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. A strong quarterback is a key ingredient in the Sooners' past success. The QB room in Norman has had a star-studded lineup this decade, led by Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, first-overall pick Caleb Williams and dominant college QBs Spencer Rattler and Dillon Gabriel. High expectations coupled with an injured receiving corps proved to be an unfavorable combination for freshman Jackson Arnold, who transferred to SEC opponent Auburn after quarterbacking the Sooners' offense in 2024. Venables chose Mateer and defensive playmakers Robert Spears-Jennings and R Mason Thomas to represent the program at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Despite being on different ends of the field, Spears-Jennings and Thomas have identified Mateer's seamless transition into Norman and the traits that make him an ideal leader. 'He's integrated himself into the team smoothly. If he says he's anxious or he was a little nervous, he didn't look like he was to me," Thomas said. "It felt like he'd been here for four years.' Mateer isn't the only newcomer. Oklahoma picked up key pieces in the transfer portal and added five new coaches. One of those new coaches worked with Mateer as an offensive coordinator and QB coach at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle. 'I feel like with Arbuckle and John, they bring a different type of swag with them. I feel like our whole offense has embodied their swag and energy because once they score a touchdown, their whole side is over there running, celebrating with the guys, and that's what you need. You need energy. I feel like these guys here love playing football," said Spears-Jennings. Arbuckle is one of the reasons for the quarterback's smooth transition. Instead of learning a new offense, Mateer built relationships with his new teammates. 'I was fortunate because I didn't have to learn a whole new offense. I was able to take time to learn the players that I was going to play with and build relationships with them in the locker room, hang out and help them learn the offense,' Mateer said. 'Building relationships is the most important thing to leading. You can't lead people you don't know.'
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
John Mateer earns high praise as Oklahoma enters new era, hoping to return to high Sooners standards
Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — The Oklahoma Sooners, a storied program with a legacy of seven national championships, have faced uncharacteristic struggles in recent years. After two 6-7 seasons in three years and a 13th-place finish in the SEC under coach Brent Venables, the Sooners hope to get back on track this season. New quarterback John Mateer, who transferred from Washington State, plays a key role in the program's plan to return to the top. Months into his tenure, he's earning praise from coaches and teammates alike. 'This is a guy that wants to win at the highest level. A connector. A guy that leads from the front. As he plays the game, he looks like he's in fast forward a lot of times. A great competitor. Super athletic. Throws the ball really well on the run. Makes a lot of good decisions,' Venables said at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. A strong quarterback is a key ingredient in the Sooners' past success. The QB room in Norman has had a star-studded lineup this decade, led by Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, first-overall pick Caleb Williams and dominant college QBs Spencer Rattler and Dillon Gabriel. High expectations coupled with an injured receiving corps proved to be an unfavorable combination for freshman Jackson Arnold, who transferred to SEC opponent Auburn after quarterbacking the Sooners' offense in 2024. Venables chose Mateer and defensive playmakers Robert Spears-Jennings and R Mason Thomas to represent the program at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Despite being on different ends of the field, Spears-Jennings and Thomas have identified Mateer's seamless transition into Norman and the traits that make him an ideal leader. 'He's integrated himself into the team smoothly. If he says he's anxious or he was a little nervous, he didn't look like he was to me," Thomas said. "It felt like he'd been here for four years.' Mateer isn't the only newcomer. Oklahoma picked up key pieces in the transfer portal and added five new coaches. One of those new coaches worked with Mateer as an offensive coordinator and QB coach at Washington State, Ben Arbuckle. 'I feel like with Arbuckle and John, they bring a different type of swag with them. I feel like our whole offense has embodied their swag and energy because once they score a touchdown, their whole side is over there running, celebrating with the guys, and that's what you need. You need energy. I feel like these guys here love playing football," said Spears-Jennings. Arbuckle is one of the reasons for the quarterback's smooth transition. Instead of learning a new offense, Mateer built relationships with his new teammates. 'I was fortunate because I didn't have to learn a whole new offense. I was able to take time to learn the players that I was going to play with and build relationships with them in the locker room, hang out and help them learn the offense,' Mateer said. 'Building relationships is the most important thing to leading. You can't lead people you don't know.' ___ AP college football: recommended Item 1 of 3
