Two newcomers on the Oklahoma Sooners’ roster are expected to play major roles in 2025. The question marks surrounding both players, though, center around whether or not they’ll be able to compete at the highest level of college football.
New starting quarterback John Mateer transferred from Washington State, where he put up incredible numbers. It’s worth noting that he did that against a schedule that’s a cakewalk compared to Oklahoma’s 2025 SEC schedule, though.
Wazzou’s toughest opponent last season was Boise State, and the Cougars lost, 45-24. They also lost three straight to end the regular season, against New Mexico, Oregon State and Wyoming.
The same questions follow running back Jaydn Ott from Cal, but to a lesser extent, because he was at least playing against ACC competition.
However they got to Oklahoma, head coach Brent Venables was clear in a news conference on Wednesday that he believes both players are ready to play against SEC competition.
The way he explained it makes sense, too.
“I know a lot of people in here have made comments that they’re gonna really struggle in the SEC because this isn’t Wyoming and whoever else we’re quantifying that against. How about a freshman quarterback playing in the SEC? He hasn’t played in the SEC either. But there’s been plenty of young players that never played college football until their freshman year and they do really well,” Venables explained (h/t On3).
As it relates specifically to Matter and Ott, the fourth-year head coach believes that both players have the fortitude to compete in the conference where “it just means more.”
“I think for those guys in particular, why I believe in them, I think they’ve got a lot of natural talent. I think they’ve got instincts,” Venables said. “I think they’ve got belief. They’ve got tremendous work ethic. They’ve got humility to be prepared and show up every day to strain, to get better, fight when things aren’t going their way. But they’re really good football players at the end of the day, and they’ve shown that through a body of work.”
Mateer was one of the top statistical quarterbacks in college football last season. He threw for 3,129 yards and 29 touchdowns (11 interceptions) while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Ott struggled with injuries in 2024 but still rushed for 385 yards and four touchdowns for Cal. In 2023, he led the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Both players have proven they can put up big numbers in college football. Now they just have to prove they can do it in the SEC.
