The John Mateer effect feels huge, but it's just July
Sooner fans should hope their new quarterback's zenith comes after the games begin, rather than now
One hopes John Mateer’s zenith as Sooner savior isn’t happening now, before he’s made his first mistake, thrown his first pass to the wrong team or lost his first game.
Should his zenith comes later, Oklahoma, only today predicted to finish 10th in the 16-team SEC field by media who cover the conference — yet another embarrassment after getting picked eighth a year ago only to finish tied for 13th — could actually be on to something.
Beating the here and now for the new Sooner quarterback will be difficult.
Right now, he’s getting compared to Baker Mayfield, despite never playing a game in his new uniform.
Right now, he’s all glorious potential, one season removed from being very good but not quite fabulous at Washington State, where his offense was coordinated by Ben Arbuckle and will be again at OU, Arbuckle having also joined the fold.
Right now, it’s peaches and cream.
“John is funny,” Sooner defensive end R. Mason Thomas said this week at SEC media days. “The [other] quarterbacks are like, ‘I see why everybody likes him.’
“He always knows what to say at the right time, and it’s funny. It’s quirky, he’s swag, he’s all that … I’m glad he was able to join our program.”
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