Latest news with #Sooners'
NBC Sports
2 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
3 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
3 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
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
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.' ___ AP college football:
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Can Jaydn Ott put together a resurgent season for the Oklahoma Sooners?
The Oklahoma Sooners will be leaning heavily on quarterback John Mateer to lead them back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019. And more than that, it's about getting the Sooners' offense back on track after struggling through the 2024 season. But Mateer won't, nay can't, have it all in his plate. As much as football can often be defined by how well a quarterback plays, it takes so much more for a team to have success. For Oklahoma's offense to be good in 2025, it's going to take a good ground game. In 2024, the Sooners averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and 155.2 rushing yards per game, which was 11th in the SEC. General manager Jim Nagy made a splash in the transfer portal by bringing in former 1,300-yard running back Jaydn Ott from Cal. After an injury-laden season in 2024, Ott's looking for a bounce-back performance before he enters the NFL draft in 2025. Now healthy, Ott will be a difference maker for the Oklahoma Sooners. With so much attention being placed on Mateer and what he'll be able to do, Ott's presence may mean just as much. Because of Mateer's ability to run the ball, teams will have to key in on him in the read-option game. At the mesh point, the quarterback must decide whether to keep the ball or hand it to the running back, based on how the defense is reacting. Because teams know Mateer can beat them with his legs, there will be better running lanes for Ott. And that's where he can create big plays. He'll be a direct beneficiary of Mateer's dual-threat ability and the amount of attention he's received this offseason. However, there will also be an inverse effect. As Ott gets going, he'll open things up for Mateer in both the read-option game and the passing game. Teams will also have to respect Ott's ability to create big plays on the ground. In 2023, Ott had 16 runs of 15 yards or more and 32 runs of 10 yards or more. By comparison, Gavin Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes, Taylor Tatum, and Xavier Robinson combined for 31 runs of 10 yards or more and 14 runs of 15 yards or more. Ott is an electric player who is going to have a huge impact on the Sooners' offense. Mateer is what is driving a lot of the Oklahoma optimism that's palpable at SEC media days. Jaydn Ott has a chance to have a big year in Ben Arbuckle's offense and with Mateer standing next to him in the backfield. So much of college football has shifted to aerial attacks to lead the way for their offenses. But with the defense that the Sooners deploy, Oklahoma will want to be able to run the ball to milk the clock and keep their defense fresh. Ott's ability to carry a heavy portion of the workload and his experience are just what the doctor ordered for an offense that hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2022. 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.
