(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
As a sophomore with Washington State, John Mateer‘s first starting season was impressive to say the least. He threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 64.6% of his passes.
Not bad, right? Now sprinkle in 826 yards on the ground and 15 more scores. Mateer conjured up 44 touchdowns in 2024, leading all quarterbacks in the FBS.
When you wish upon a transfer portal, sometimes a question mark emerges. Not this time. Because it’s certainly not often you can say you snagged the most sought-after quarterback transfer in college football, or even one of them.
The Oklahoma Sooners got their guy. Making the huge leap to the SEC could prove challenging for him. But Mateer is confident in all the work he put in last season, and all the time soaking in the knowledge on the sidelines. Simply put, his approach hasn’t changed.
Just Being Myself
In an interview on The Heisman Trophy Podcast, Chris Huston asked Mateer what’s the single biggest thing on his mind when he wakes up. Mateer was candid as usual. “Just being myself and competing every day…I’m in a new situation but I don’t need to do anything that’s not me, that’s not who I am,” Mateer said. “The people here have told me that and really embraced me.”
Some of Mateer’s coaches made the long journey to Norman just before he did. After offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was hired by OU, quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski soon followed suit.
“John will be the most sought-after player in the portal,” former Cougars head coach Jake Dickert said of Mateer after he entered. “I think he’s going to be the best player in the country next year.”
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