New Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer's name keeps popping up on about every preseason award watch list that comes out.
Mateer on Thursday was on the preseason watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, which is given to the best college quarterback in the country. His name was also on the watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year. Both of those go to the best overall player regardless of position.
Mateer on Davey O'Brien Award preseason watch list
Mateer has garnered all these expectations before even taking a snap for the Sooners. He just transferred from Washington State to OU this offseason as the No. 1 prospect available in the Transfer Portal at the time he committed. He ultimately followed his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Norman, so will still be in the same system despite a different location.
In his first season as the starter under Arbuckle last year, Mateer led all of FBS with 44 total touchdowns as a sophomore. Mateer completed 64.9% of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs compared to seven interceptions. His 29 passing TDs ranked ninth in FBS last season while his passing yards total was 16th.
Although Mateer hasn't accomplished anything as a Sooner yet, he's certainly already earned all the preseason hype thrown his way. Now, he's just surrounded by more talent and playing with a more recognizable logo on his helmet.
The Heisman Trophy tops all those awards, though. There's no official preseason watch list for the Heisman Trophy, but every college football expert who creates one includes Mateer and Vegas has given Mateer Heisman odds since the moment he committed to the Sooners.
The Sooners haven't had a Heisman winner since Kyler Murray in 2018, just a year after Baker Mayfield also claimed the award. Jalen Hurts was then a Heisman runner-up in 2019. However, no player has come close since Brent Venables became the head coach before the 2022 season.
Murray and Mayfield were also the last Sooners to win the Davey O'Brien Award. Other OU winners include Sam Bradford (2008), Jason White (2003 & 2004) and Billy Sims (1978). Sims won the award when it was given to the most outstanding player in the Southwest.
Miami's Cam Ward won the Davey O'Brien Award in 2024 before becoming the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Mateer backed up Ward in 2022 as a freshman at Washington State. Both played under Arbuckle before transferring elsewhere.
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