As he prepares for his debut season in Norman, John Mateer carries big expectations on his shoulders. The new Oklahoma QB is ready to lead. And with OC Ben Arbuckle by his side, head coach Brent Venables brought Mateer in to spark a struggling offense. While we all know that Oklahoma has been a consistent quarterback factory. From Baker Mayfield to Dillon Gabriel, the Sooners have built a legacy under center. But last season, that legacy took a hit, and a 6-7 record shook the program and dented its reputation. So now, John Mateer steps in with a mission.

In Oklahoma’s second year in the SEC, the pressure is sky-high. While Brent Venables needs a spark, the Sooners need a leader. And now, for the first time as a Sooner, Mateer is speaking to the media — ready to embrace the challenge ahead. On the March 5 episode of OU Insider, John Mateer gave a glimpse into his mindset. He doesn’t overthink it — he just plays. And following that he stated, “People say I have swag. I just play football. I have the ball in my hand every play, I get the opportunity to do something with it, that camera’s on me all the time, so I guess I have swag. Some people say I have toughness. I just feel like I have an obligation to give everything I have for my teammates.”

Then comes the weight of expectations. And as Oklahoma’s new QB, Mateer knows the pressure is real, but he welcomes it. And he said, “I’ve had a lot of close friends throughout my whole life. They’re huge Oklahoma fans. One of my good buddies goes to school here, and another Oklahoma Sooners — you know, it’s wild. Like, um, but I’m here, and I feel blessed to do it. And it’s close to home, which is great. My family loves it, obviously, ’cause I’m so close. But, I mean, it goes back to, like, the expectations and the pressure. I think it’s just a privilege and opportunity to be here and work as hard as I can with all the resources I have and the great teammates I have around me to just put my best performance on the field.” To be honest, while Mateer isn’t backing down, he’s embracing the moment.

However, Mateer steps into a rich tradition of transfer quarterbacks at Oklahoma. And he’s got weapons; with Deion Burks on the outside and Jovantae Barnes back in the backfield, the pieces are in place. Plus, Mateer brings his own firepower. During the 2024 season, he accumulated 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing TDs, along with 3,139 passing yards and 29 passing scores. And now, after transferring from Washington State, he’s ready to make his mark in Norman.

And the history is on his side. Look, Baker Mayfield transferred from Texas Tech in 2014, won the Heisman in 2017, and became a Sooners legend. On top of that, Dillon Gabriel arrived from UCF in 2022 and led with poise and precision. So now, it’s Mateer’s turn. And when asked about the challenge of stepping into their shoes, he didn’t shy away. Because he knows the standard, and he’s ready to rise to it.

Furthermore, Mateer knows the value of learning from those who came before him. And when it comes to guidance, Dillon Gabriel offered some key advice. “I’ve heard a lot of advice from different guys. I talked to Dillon Gabriel, um, and he was — he came, and he talked a little bit, and he just told me to embrace the guys and really build relationships, because that’s the most important thing — being a leader. Um, and then loving everything about it — the fans, the process, the offense — and just learning everybody and learning how to win,” said Mateer.

And what about Baker Mayfield? The Sooners legend set the standard, but Mateer hasn’t had many conversations with him yet. “I haven’t talked to Baker a whole lot since I committed just ’cause I know he’s busy, and I don’t really want to bother him. Um, but I bet if I texted him, he’d be open to it. But, no, I haven’t really,” pointed out the new QB1.

As of now, even without direct talks, Mayfield’s legacy speaks for itself, and Mateer is ready to carve out his own. But the new Sooners QB1 is grateful to have learned from Cam Ward.

John Mateer gives Cam Ward credit

Before arriving in Norman, John Mateer spent 2023 backing up Cam Ward at Washington State. And he watched, learned, and grew. But then, Ward is off to Miami, projected as one of the top picks in this spring’s NFL Draft. And Mateer is ready to take the reins. “I learned from Cam what to do and what not to do,” he said.

But Mateer didn’t stop there, and his competitive fire caught the attention of OC Ben Arbuckle because their bond grew through the way Mateer approached his role as Cam Ward’s backup. Safe to say, he never settled and he competed. “I wanted to beat Cam out, right? I think me just trying to go after Cam and just be the best quarterback out there every day, I think he saw how passionate I was,” said the new QB1.

As of now, that hunger, that drive — it’s what set him apart. But pressure? Not a problem for John Mateer. This is his first offseason as a starting quarterback, and he’s doing it at a place like Oklahoma — where expectations are sky-high.

Still, he’s unfazed, and the spotlight doesn’t shake him. “I don’t really think about the expectations too much. I don’t put pressure on myself,” said Mateer. So now, with a fresh start and a new system, Mateer aims to bring the fire back to Oklahoma’s offense. And while the pressure is on for the Sooners, it’s Mateer’s time to deliver in the 2025 season.