John Mateer ignored it when Baker Mayfield called him.
Mayfield was reportedly part of the final push to get Mateer, the top prospect in the transfer portal, to commit to Oklahoma last week. It was shortly after a phone call with Mayfield that Mateer pledged to be a Sooner, you know, once Mateer finally called back.
Mateer was a guest on KREF Sports on Monday for his first public interview since committing to OU. He discussed his relationship with Ben Arbuckle, his offensive coordinator who he followed to Norman, being under recruited and more, including that conversation with Mayfield that almost never happened.
"It was surreal," Mateer said during the radio interview. "I actually didn't answer his first phone call because it was a number I didn't know and I don't really hit the numbers I don't know. But he left me a voicemail and I was freaking out. I was like, 'There is no way Baker Mayfield just called me.'
"I was sitting in Brent Venables', Coach Venables', office, this huge office, and I was like, 'There's no way this is real.' Super cool moment. I called him back, obviously. And he talked to me and he was a super humble, nice dude and it really helped."
Comparisons are already being made between Mayfield and Mateer because of their play style and path to Oklahoma. Both were under recruited out of Texas high schools before transferring to OU. Mateer, though, was a No. 1 prospect as a transfer while Mayfield was still rather unknown at that point.
Washington State was Mateer's only FBS offer out of Little Elm High School. In his first season as a starter this year, though, he led all of FBS with 44 total TDs. He's dangerous as a passer and runner because his "reckless" style of play that mirrors what makes Mayfield so fun to watch.
Chris Plank asked Mateer to describe the way he plays, and considering it was on the radio, Sooner fans could have thought it was just a re-run of a Mayfield interview.
"I'd say I have the ability to be a pocket passer, but I enjoy to run the ball," Mateer said. "At the end of the day I'll play a little reckless and tough because I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win the game."