In the summer of 2021, John Mateer committed to FCS program Central Arkansas since nobody anywhere viewed him as a major-college quarterback.
A decommitment five months later and an eventual signing with Washington State paved the road of opportunity for Mateer, who is now receiving an estimated $3 million in name, image and likeness funds to be the quarterback for Oklahoma.
Mateer’s presence is expected to help guide the Sooners back up the standings after the school struggled — 6-7 overall, 2-6 in league — in its first season in the Southeastern Conference.
“I would say I can bring a little bit to the table,” Mateer, a junior, said Wednesday during Southeastern Conference media days. “I fit the offense really well. I’m just trying to get better. I’ve got a lot of people around me that’s going to help me a lot.”
Oklahoma quarterbacks passed for just 2,286 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. The Sooners scored 20 or fewer points on seven occasions and had one three-game stretch in which they combined for 26 points.
Meanwhile, Mateer took over at Washington State after Cam Ward transferred to Miami and was a big hit with both his arm and his legs. The offense was just as exciting and productive as it was with Ward, the No. 1 pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mateer passed for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions last season and rushed for 826 yards and 15 scores. The 44 combined TDs were most in the nation.
After the season, Mateer entered the transfer portal. He was interested in Oklahoma and North Carolina while Miami kept contacting him about replacing Ward again. He also strongly considered remaining in Pullman.
Mateer wasn’t interested in following in Ward’s footsteps again. But things quickly became clearer for him when the Sooners hired Ben Arbuckle as offensive coordinator.
You see, Arbuckle was the OC at Washington State who had just allowed Mateer to flourish.
Mateer signed on with the Sooners and spring drills were a breeze due to his familiarity with Arbuckle’s philosophy.
“I would say I was fortunate because I didn’t have to learn a whole new offense,” Mateer said. “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, because building relationships is the most important thing to leading.
“You can’t lead people you don’t know. They’re not going to trust you if they don’t know you. That was super important to me.”
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables has been very impressed with what Mateer has added to the program.
“This is a guy that wants to win at the highest level,” Venables said. “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. Very self-deprecating. Likes to have fun. Can laugh at himself.”
Even before playing his first game with the Sooners, Mateer, from Little Elm, Texas, is drawing comparisons to Baker Mayfield, the school’s 2017 Heisman Trophy winner.
Mayfield threw 119 touchdown passes in three seasons with Oklahoma after beginning his career at Texas Tech.
“It’s an honor to be compared to him,” Mateer said. “When you talk Oklahoma, everybody loves Baker Mayfield, which is great. And deservingly so — he’s done a lot for this university.
“It’s an honor to be compared to him. I wouldn’t say I’m exactly like him. But it’s definitely cool to be that high status. I don’t see it as pressure. I see it as opportunity.”
–Field Level Media
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