Joel Klatt makes strong prediction on John Mateer in first year as Oklahoma QB

Joel Klatt can’t wait to see how John Mateer looks in the Oklahoma offense. Mateer transferred to Norman from Washington State this offseason, and Klatt believes he could have a similar effect on the Sooners that another former Cougars transfer QB had last season.

Cam Ward was critical in helping Miami turn itself into a contender in 2024 after transferring from Pullman, leading the country in passing touchdowns and finishing fourth in the Heisman voting. The Hurricanes went from 7-6 before Ward arrived to 10-3, and Klatt believes Mateer could have the same effect at OU.

“When Cam Ward went from Washington State to Miami, I heard it in people’s reaction last year when they started seeing and watching Cam Ward actually play at Miami, and they’re like, ‘Oh, man. He’s so good,'” The FOX Sports analyst said. “It’s like, ‘Yeah, I mean he’s playing the exact way he did at Washington State. I believe that we’re gonna have a very similar effect with Mateer going from Washington State and now going to Oklahoma.”

Mateer should bring life to a Sooners team that looked dismal at times on offense last season and went back-and-forth between Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins at quarterback. He’ll bring experience and a dual-threat ability after rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024.

That was in addition to 3,139 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Klatt dove deeper into the game tape of Mateer in his preparation to call the Holiday Bowl last year between Washington State and Syracuse and came away highly impressed.

Klatt also likes the fact that Mateer brings his offensive coordinator from last season, Ben Arbuckle, with him to Norman. That should eliminate the difficulties that come with integrating into a new system and allow Mateer to continue doing what made him so successful a season ago.

“When I prepared for the Holiday Bowl when Washington State was going to play Syracuse and I was calling that game, I got to watch every snap of offense that Washington State played last year on film. I came away so impressed with John Mateer. He is really talented as a thrower. He is athletic and quietly put up one of the best quarterback years in the country. Now he’s going to enter the spotlight. Now he goes down to Oklahoma and he goes to the SEC. Yes, that’s a jump. There’s no doubt. But he brings his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, with him. So he’s not going to have to learn a new system, and in a lot of ways, that should pay dividends for Mateer.

“…When I watched him on film, I’m like, ‘This guy is a player.’ Last year he was one of the 10 best quarterbacks in college football. Now he’s coming back, he’s gonna have better players around him and he retains his offensive coordinator. Yeah, he’s gonna be one of the 10 best, and I actually think he’s gonna be one of the five best. He’s a heck of a player.”