In a significant move for college football, Washington State’s standout quarterback John Mateer has committed to the Oklahoma Sooners, a decision he shared via social media. Mateer, ranked as the top transfer prospect by ESPN, heads to Norman after an impressive breakout season with the Cougars in 2024. He brings with him two years of eligibility, eager to make an impact in the SEC.
Mateer’s decision reflects Oklahoma’s strategic hiring earlier this month of former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski, positioning the Sooners as frontrunners in the pursuit of the dual-threat quarterback. Despite a strong recruitment effort from Miami, Oklahoma managed to secure Mateer’s commitment, highlighting their determined recruitment strategy.
During his time at Washington State, Mateer showed he was more than ready for the spotlight after stepping up from Cam Ward’s understudy to the primary signal-caller in 2024. With 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns at a 65% completion rate, along with 827 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, he demonstrated why he’s considered one of the premier dual-threat QBs in the game. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 219 pounds, Mateer also posted a top-10 QBR among Group of 5 starters, with a commendable rating of 71.4 over 12 starts.
The Cougars enjoyed a strong campaign, starting 8-1 and reaching as high as No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. However, the season ended with three straight losses, prompting changes within their coaching staff. Oklahoma, meanwhile, had its own set of challenges, parting ways with offensive coordinator Seth Littrell midway through the season before bringing on Arbuckle.
Oklahoma’s offense struggled last season, ranking 94th nationally and putting up just 24.3 points per game, their lowest scoring average since 1998. With head coach Brent Venables at the helm, the Sooners are banking on the dynamic combination of Mateer’s talents and Arbuckle’s offensive creativity to revitalize their attack heading into the 2025 season.
Mateer’s journey to this point is remarkable. Originally from Little Elm, Texas, he wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school and initially committed to Central Arkansas at the FCS level before a late offer from Washington State changed his trajectory in January 2022.
Meanwhile, Washington State’s coaching landscape shifts with Jake Dickert’s move to Wake Forest, following Dave Clawson’s departure. Dickert aimed to retain Mateer for another season but acknowledged the quarterback’s desire to compete on a larger stage next year. “John will be the most sought-after player in the portal,” Dickert remarked earlier this week, expressing high expectations for Mateer’s future.
Oklahoma’s season will soon culminate at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against Navy on Dec. 27. Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is expected to start in what could be a pivotal setup leading into Mateer’s anticipated debut next season. With these changes, the Sooners are poised for what could be an exciting new era in their inaugural SEC season.
