Oklahoma football coach compares John Mateer to Patrick Mahomes

Big-time name to be in the same conversation as.
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There’s probably not a better player in football to be compared to right now than Patrick Mahomes, and the Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback received that comparison from a man who knows. 

OU wide receivers coach Emmett Jones, who also coached at Texas Tech, mentioned Sooner quarterback John Mateer along with Mahomes on Wednesday. 

Sooners wide receivers coach Emmett Jones mentions John Mateer with future NFL Hall of Famer

Andy Staples of On3 ranked Mateer as the No. 6 quarterback in college football heading into the 2025 season. Jones obviously agreed with the hype. 

Jones shared Staples’ rankings on X as the Sooners are winding down spring ball and said, “I spent two seasons with Pat Mahomes…John Mateer is a bad bad man!!!  A DAWG.” 

Mateer has made a quick impression on Jones since transferring from Washington State just a few months ago. Mateer followed Ben Arbuckle, who Brent Venables hired away from Washington State to be OU’s new offensive coordinator. 

When Mateer committed to the Sooners in December, he was the No. 1 player in the transfer portal. 

Last season as a sophomore, Mateer led the FBS with 44 total touchdowns. He threw for 3,139 yards and 29 TDs while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores.

The numbers from last season, and now with more talent around him at OU, has expectations soaring for Mateer, and not just from his own coaches. He’ll start the season as an early Heisman contender before even taking a snap for the Sooners. 

Mahomes has already solidified himself as a future NFL Hall of Famer with three Super Bowl wins. But at Texas Tech, the highest honor Mahomes ever got was Second-Team All-Big 12 in 2016. Mateer at least getting named Second-Team All-SEC is certainly possible. 

If Mateer does reach expectations this season, then Jones comparing him to Mahomes really isn’t that outrageous. 

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