OU football QB John Mateer is calmer entering Year 2 as Sooners' QB1. Here's why
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NORMAN — John Mateer walked onto the practice field to begin training camp this week with a new level of calmness.
Mateer has learned what all comes with being Oklahoma football's quarterback for over a year now and knows what to expect as practices continue to roll on ahead of the Sooners' first game against UTEP on Sept. 4. He devoted significant time to the film room this offseason, which he's already seeing translate to the field where he's facing coach Brent Venables' ferocious defense day in and day out.
"Keeping your brain calm, keep your body calm, keep your feet calm," Mateer said Friday of his process. "It's really the feet are the biggest thing. Knowing where your feet need to be, your eyes and how to get there and then just feeling the pocket. Because your brain's everywhere, you're thinking you don't know what you're looking at, and then it's like, 'Oh,' you'll hesitate."
Mateer often struggled with his footwork and seeing the field last season, resulting in 11 interceptions. He replayed each turnover over again in his head throughout the offseason, hungry to improve, while also knowing he won't be perfect all the time.
While his work ethic hasn't changed, Mateer said the main difference between this year and last year at this time is honing into more of the small details that can change a game on a dime.
"Last year there was a lot of different things at play throughout the season, but it was new every week," OU quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski said. "Every week was a new defense. It was a new scheme that maybe he hasn't played against, and so now it's that calmness of falling into some comfortability with that.
"With that comes an increased leadership role. He's upped that in a whole different way, just because again, like last year, he's trying to learn the locker room or earn the respect of the locker room, and now those guys know him."
Mateer is entering his fourth season with both Kuceyeski and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, dating back to their time together at Washington State. That continuity is rare in college football these days.
Arbuckle, Kuceyeski and Mateer began dissecting all of the quarterback's negative plays in January and diving into the nuances they believe will help him improve in 2026. Mateer also watched film with Venables, tight ends coach Jason Witten and former Sooners Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford this summer.
In addition to studying his tape, Mateer worked to make small mechanical tweaks coming off breaking his thumb last season. Kuceyeski has been pleased with what he's seen from Mateer throwing the football.
"He's got a lot of a lot of faith and trust in the way that he's throwing the football right now," Kuceyeski said. "Now it's just about making sure that those route depths are perfect and the ball placement, given the route is good and who he's repping with, and making sure that we're getting great camaraderie.
"But he's throwing the ball really well and we're excited about where he's at."
Now that Mateer has done the work on himself, mentally and physically, it's time to show how much he's improved. Following a disciplined offseason with limited distractions, Mateer is juiced to be back on the field with his teammates.
He finds tranquility knowing he brings much more experience to the table.
"Playing with Coach Arbuckle, Coach Kuc and all these guys I've known for so long and playing with these guys that I've built great relationships with, knowing them for one year vs. two years is so different," Mateer said. "I know these guys, I love them and doing it front of these fans, I'm really excited.
"I think I'm the most excited I've ever been to play football."
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football QB John Mateer is calmer entering Year 2 as Sooners' QB1. Here's why
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