As Oklahoma looks to rebound after finishing 14th in its debut season in the Southeastern Conference last year, a familiar face from the program’s golden era has played a subtle but influential role in shaping its future.
Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who led the Sooners to a 33-6 record as a starter and now enters his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has closely followed the emergence of John Mateer, a promising transfer from Washington State aiming to become OU’s next offensive leader.
On Saturday, at his annual football camp held at OU’s practice field in Norman, Mayfield shared his feelings about the hype Mateer is receiving.
“I love the way he plays,” Mayfield said, according to SoonerScoop. “I think there are some similarities in our game, just by the way he carries himself. You can tell leadership goes a long way with him. I love that, and I’m excited he came in. We’ll see what happens, but it’s exciting.”
The Bucs star went on to share that when Mateer was considering a transfer from Washington State, he offered him guidance and took the opportunity to praise Oklahoma.
“Obviously, he was still deciding,” Mayfield said. “You can’t force somebody to do anything they don’t want to. But I told him everything I would’ve said. If you trust it, if you love it there, if you want a chance to go shine in a place that will truly embrace you for everything you are, this is the place to be.
“The tradition here, you can’t beat it. The atmosphere. Once you start winning, people will rally around you. It’s up to him now.”
Mayfield’s advice may have been instrumental in shaping Mateer’s decision.
After throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns with 826 rushing yards and 15 scores at Washington State, Mateer prepares to navigate the challenge of becoming Oklahoma’s next leader under center.
