NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer stood at the podium more than an hour after his season ended with a thud, unpacked everything that went right, unpacked everything that went wrong, and reflected on how “God’s grace” led him to one of college football’s most storied programs.
The Sooners logo on his helmet or chest, Mateer conceded, still kind of “freaks” him out a bit.
“Oklahoma versus Alabama,” Mateer said, “and I just played in that game.”
The Sooners are not scheduled to play the Crimson Tide in the regular season next year. They’ll still play Georgia, Texas A&M and, of course, Texas, among others, in the prestigious Southeastern Conference where marquee events are hardly lacking.
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Will Mateer?
Or will he be a professional by then?
“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Mateer said after Oklahoma’s 34-24 loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Memorial Stadium on Friday night. “I’m pretty sure I’ll take some time and weigh all the options. We’ll see.”
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Mateer, a Little Elm alum, is listed as the fifth-best quarterback prospect on Pro Football Focus’ big board and the seventh-best on ESPN’s. The latter wrote Wednesday that “it’s possible” Mateer could recover some of the first-round buzz he once held in the pre-draft process.
The current projections slot him in the day two or three range, potentially around rounds three-through-six, where the average annual salary can scale between $900,000 and $1.2 million over the length of a four-year contract. Mateer was reportedly given a $3 million name, image and likeness deal when he transferred to Oklahoma prior to this season.
He could outperform that draft projection in a second season at Oklahoma and fourth in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s system. Mateer blossomed into one of college football’s premier passers in his first season as Washington State’s starter last year when he passed for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns.
“If you look at the stats around college football,” Mateer said, “the second year is usually more successful.”
It helps to be healthy. Mateer broke a bone in his right hand four games into the season, returned two weeks later vs. Texas in the Red River Rivalry game, played the remainder of the season and still dealt with some soreness in the days prior to Saturday’s playoff game. He passed for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in an imperfect season that did not live up to the Heisman Trophy expectations that he generated early.
“He’s a warrior, man, he’s got everything you want in a competitor, a leader and a quarterback,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said. “He leads from the front in everything he does. He takes way more responsibility than he should when things aren’t going well. That’s why he’s going to be a great player and play this game a long time.”
Venables believes that Mateer showcased “glimpses” of his full potential this season despite the injury.
“I think you saw it tonight,” Venables said. “If we could’ve been a little better on defense when we needed to, a little better in the special teams, I really believe that we’d still be playing and we’d be talking about how well John played at the right time.”
Mateer had moments where he played like a quarterback capable of a postseason run. He danced around Crimson Tide defenders for an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and patiently waited for a play to develop in the endzone for a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III in the second.
He also missed a walk-in touchdown on Oklahoma’s first drive when tight end Jaren Kanak was wide open on a seam route, gambled on a deep heave in the second when he could’ve ran for an easy first down and threw a game-tying pick-six before halftime when the Crimson Tide “tricked” him with their defensive scheme. Arbuckle didn’t question Mateer’s decision to throw instead of run and shouldered blame for the interception.
“I’m proud of the young man that he is, the leader that he is, the competitor that he is,” Arbuckle said. “I think John got to learn a lot about himself this year.”
Mateer remains Oklahoma’s best option as the roster stands if he does choose to return. Backup Michael Hawkins Jr., a Frisco Emerson alum, hasn’t shown enough in his first two college season to leapfrog Mateer on the depth chart. Their top signee — Celina’s Bowe Bentley — is a four-star recruit and state champion, but, the leap from 4A Div. I football to the SEC is an arduous one that the ready-to-compete Sooners shouldn’t inherently bank on for immediate success next fall.
Arbuckle declined to explore Oklahoma’s transfer portal plans when asked Saturday night. The Sooners are expected to lose wide receivers Isaiah Sategna III and Deion Burks — who finished first and second in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season — to the draft.
They may need to find a new quarterback while they’re at it.
With Alabama on the ropes, Oklahoma squandered golden opportunity to end CFP drought
The Sooners tied their own record for the largest blown lead in College Football Playoff history.
5 thoughts from Oklahoma-Alabama: Sooners collapse as CFP drought continues
Friday’s game included a blown first-half lead, a late comeback effort and another Sooners loss in the postseason.
Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.