New OU soccer QB John Mateer not over SEC faculties passing on him

Any individual’s going to pay, John Mateer guarantees. Possibly even all of ‘em.

For the love of all issues Oklahoma, pump that Crimson and Cream angle, that Sooner Magic bravado, deep into the veins of the all of the sudden stale program.

They’ve hitched their speedy future to this straight-shooting, no frills, uber-talented quarterback with one thing to show. To the quarterback nobody needed out of highschool, whose soccer path unceremoniously unfolded from tiny Central Arkansas, to Washington State ― to now you’re all going to pay.

Each final considered one of you who handed on him.

“I’m from the south, and all of those SEC groups recruit the south,” Mateer advised USA TODAY Sports activities. “So I suppose all of them handed on me.”

He pauses for a second, understanding the enormity of the assertion and the way it will land in an SEC world the place it’s not faith, it’s your very existence.

“Even Oklahoma handed on me,” Mateer continues. “So now it’s nice. It’s all on the schedule. There’s a pair (groups) right here and there that actually make me mad. I’m not over it.”

That is the way forward for Oklahoma soccer, everybody. It’s equal elements Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward (extra on that later), and embattled Sooners coach Brent Venables.

In a single season as a starter at Washington State, Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs, and rushed for 826 yards and 15 TDs. No surprise Venables threw a load of NIL cash at his spirit animal.

Present change, be change, as Venables likes to evangelise.

“His depth, his focus is off the charts,” Venables stated.

However this isn’t a narrative of chasing NIL {dollars}. Mateer was pleased at Washington State, beloved his coaches and teammates and the bucolic but quirky city in Jap Washington.

He performed highschool soccer in Texas towards Ashton Jeanty, who like Mateer was ignored by energy convention faculties till he confirmed out. He knew Jeanty turned down a big NIL payday to remain at Boise State and construct a legacy ― then went out and did it.

It wasn’t simple for Mateer to stroll away from the one program that gave him a possibility to play Bowl Subdivision soccer, that plucked him from a dedication to Central Arkansas and advised him he would sit and be taught behind one other rags to (cash) baggage story named Ward.

Mateer waited two seasons, and received his first alternative to start out in 2024. Three months later and after accounting for 44 touchdowns – a much bigger and higher season than something Ward produced in Pullman – Cougars coach Jake Dickert knew what was subsequent.

“He’ll be probably the most sought-after participant within the switch portal,” Dickert stated.

It’s right here the place we join the dots, and clarify the subtleties of participant procurement within the present setting of faculty soccer. Two days after Washington State misplaced to Wyoming within the season remaining, Venables employed Cougars offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Two weeks later, Mateer was on the telephone with Mayfield attempting to decide: signal with Oklahoma, or get an early begin on studying a professional offense by signing with the man who has six Tremendous Bowl rings — and simply occurred to educate the best quarterback of all.

Whereas a pleasant perk, NIL money had nothing to do with it. The choice got here right down to what Mateer knew and was snug with, and what could possibly be with Invoice Belichick at North Carolina.

He received a nudge.

“Baker advised me it wasn’t an enormous drawback going from the Air Raid to the professional recreation. Related ideas,” Mateer stated, after which laughed. “However I’m certain he wasn’t biased in any respect.”

Not lengthy after that, Mateer was within the soccer facility at Oklahoma with a gaggle of different first-timers from the switch portal and early freshmen enrollees. They have been going by orientation, and shuffling by stations whereas the remainder of the crew had begun offseason coaching.

When Mateer arrived at Oklahoma, safeties coach Brandon Corridor advised him a superb quarterback offers everybody within the constructing hope. On the primary day of exercises, when Mateer barely knew anybody’s title or story, his new teammates pushed him to the entrance of the road on the primary run.

Present change, be change.

“That meant rather a lot to me,” Mateer stated. “They needed somebody to come back in and take cost.”

Need to know why all of it fell aside for the Sooners of their first season within the SEC, why solely an upset of Alabama in November prevented the worst convention file in almost 100 years?

As a result of when Oklahoma moved on from quarterback Dillon Gabriel after the 2023 season – relying on whom you ask, Gabriel was both compelled out or left on his personal – for hotshot bluechip recruit Jackson Arnold, every thing modified.

The offense struggled to attain factors, and extra necessary, misplaced its attacking id. A large number of accidents didn’t assist, nevertheless it was clear that Arnold – benched halfway by the season – wasn’t the reply.

It took two days for Venables to vary course with Arbuckle, who helped Oklahoma land Mateer, who now helps Arbuckle with the offense set up throughout spring apply. And now the Sooners are watching a Cam Ward-type affect in 2025.

“It’s not for me to take a look at this as I’m the savior of a program.” Mateer stated. “I don’t get caught up in that. Success is profitable video games.”

Yeah, effectively, it doesn’t damage to show some extent and make others pay alongside the best way. Simply ask the final quarterback from Texas who arrived in Norman with a 10-gallon chip on his shoulder.

If it seems to be like Mayfield and appears like Mayfield, OU can solely hope it performs out like Mayfield.

“Hopefully,” Mateer stated, “Everyone will likely be paying for it.”

Matt Hayes is the senior nationwide school soccer author for USA TODAY Sports activities Community. Comply with him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

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