John Mateer can make the SEC jump; Taylen Green and Diego Pavia did
It's the SEC's first opportunity to get to know Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. Expectations are high for Mateer heading into 2025. If there's much optimism surrounding the Sooners, it's tied to Mateer's arm and legs resurrecting an OU offense that averaged just 13 offensive points per game in SEC play in 2024.
Mateer combined for nearly 4,000 yards of offense last season for Washington State. He threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 14 more. A strong year in his first season as a starter. And now, he'll make the jump to the SEC with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Arbuckle was a big hire in the offseason, providing more direction for the Sooners' offense. But a lot of Oklahoma's hopes ride on Mateer and how he transitions to the SEC.
It's a challenging jump. However, 2024 provided evidence that players with solid to good production at a lower level of football can make that jump successfully. Past production doesn't always equal future outcomes, but Arkansas' Taylen Green and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia walked in 2024 so Mateer could run in 2025.
Green started a couple of seasons at Boise State and produced nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and 44 total touchdowns. In his first year with Arkansas, he threw for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for another 602 yards and eight touchdowns.
Pavia, who helped Vanderbilt to wins over Auburn and Alabama, combined for nearly 6,000 yards of total offense and 52 touchdowns in his two seasons with New Mexico State. For the Commodores in 2024, he threw for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 801 yards and eight touchdowns while helping Vanderbilt reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018 and their first winning record since James Franklin was the head coach back in 2013.
Green and Pavia were good additions for their respective programs and both arrived in the SEC with multiple years of starting experience. And they had their best years yet in 2024. Mateer has just one season of experience as a starter, but has multiple years in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's offense. Oklahoma is hoping that familiarity will lead to a career year for Mateer.
Though not everything hinges on Mateer's ability to make the jump, he'll have to play well for Oklahoma to contend for a College Football Playoff berth. He'll likely have to play great for the Sooners to reach the conference title game in Atlanta.
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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