Which Oklahoma Sooners transfer will be the most impactful?
The Oklahoma Sooners are banking on the high-profile addition of John Mateer to revitalize an offense that was one of the worst in the country in 2024. Mateer's addition gave the Sooners an experienced signal-caller to lead them into 2025 after posting nearly 4,000 combined passing and rushing yards and 44 total touchdowns.
He's already impressing with his leadership and ability in spring ball providing optimism that Oklahoma will be able to climb the SEC standings and contend for a College Football Playoff berth, and maybe more.
USA TODAY Sports Paul Myerberg believes Mateer will be one of the best transfers in 2025. In a list of the 10 most impactful transfers for next season, the new Oklahoma Sooners quarterback came in at No. 2.
No single transfer may have a bigger impact on the College Football Playoff race — if you believe in Oklahoma’s defense. Mateer could transform the Sooners’ middling offense along with his former coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired in early December, and turn the Sooners into a legitimate contender in the SEC. Last season, the junior threw for 3,139 yards, ran for 826 yards on 4.6 yards per carry and had 44 combined scores. - Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports
The Oklahoma Sooners will have a good defense once again in 2025. Despite the losses of Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Ethan Downs, DaJon Terry, Woodi Washington, and several other key contributors, the Sooners are still loaded with four and five-star talent on the defensive side of the ball. With Brent Venables taking over defensive play calling duties, Oklahoma's defense could be even better than it was in 2024.
But the problem wasn't defense; it was the offense. When you take defensive scores against Auburn, Alabama, and Missouri out of the equation, the Sooners only averaged 13 points per game in SEC play. If Mateer can return the offense to respectability or even make it one of the better offenses in the SEC, the Sooners will be contenders, and Mateer's addition will have been worth its weight in gold.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's John Mateer among USA TODAY Sports most impactful transfers
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