Top Ten Opposing Players: John Mateer and Ellis Robinson IV
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This summer we’ll be exploring the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, it’s much more scientific then that (or linguistic since we are just ordering them alphabetically.) We’re on the back half of the TTOP exercise for 2026 and we’re jumping off with Sooner looking to bounce back from injury. Before we jump into that, take a look at our previous TTOP here:
Mario Craver and Leroy Harris III
Trinidad Chambliss and Peyton Bowen
Arch Manning and Jelani McDonald
John Mateer
School: Oklahoma (by way of Washington State)
Position: QB
Class: RS Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 218 lbs.
Hometown: Little Elm, Texas
What He’s Done
John Mateer arrived at Oklahoma after a standout 2024 season at Washington State, where he established himself as one of the nation’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks by throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and 15 more scores.
The transition to Oklahoma started well as the 6-1, 218 lbs. quarterback from Little Elm, Texas, looked comfortable early in the season before suffering a hand injury that required mid-season surgery.
Despite missing one game and returning before he was fully healthy, Mateer still started all 12 of Oklahoma’s other contests and completed 247 of 397 passes for 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed 149 times for 431 yards and a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
Before the injury, Mateer looked like the dynamic playmaker Oklahoma expected when it brought him to Norman. After injuring his throwing hand, however, the Sooners’ offense became stagnant for much of the remainder of the season, even after he returned from surgery.
What He’ll Do
Mateer enters 2026 as one of the more fascinating quarterbacks in the country.
The biggest question surrounding his season has nothing to do with talent; it is whether last year’s struggles were primarily the result of an injured throwing hand or whether SEC defenses exposed limitations in his game that will continue this fall.
There are reasons for Sooner optimism as Mateer has already proven he can be an explosive dual-threat quarterback, and another offseason in Norman should only improve his comfort level. If his hand is fully recovered, the arm strength and accuracy that made him so productive at Washington State could return as well.
Regardless of how that question is answered, one trait has never been in doubt. Mateer is a fearless competitor and an outstanding athlete. His willingness to extend plays, absorb contact and lead from the front makes him one of the toughest quarterbacks in the conference to defend. If the healthy version of Mateer returns, Oklahoma’s offense could look dramatically different in 2026.
Mizzou Matchup
Mateer gave Mizzou problems at times during last season’s meeting, but Corey Batoon’s defense ultimately accomplished much of what it wanted despite Mizzou’s loss in Norman. The Oklahoma quarterback completed 14 of 30 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers. While the touchdown passes stand out, the overall performance was inefficient. Outside of one explosive play, Mizzou consistently forced Mateer into difficult throws and prevented Oklahoma from generating sustained success through the air.
That experience should give both teams confidence entering their Thanksgiving weekend matchup in Columbia. Oklahoma knows Mateer is capable of making game-changing plays when protection holds up and receivers create separation. Mizzou knows Batoon’s defensive scheme can make life difficult by disguising coverages, limiting explosive passes and forcing the Sooners to execute methodically.
For Chip Lindsey and Austin Simmons, the priority will be controlling the game offensively and avoiding the turnovers that allow a dynamic quarterback extra possessions. For Batoon’s defense, the challenge remains balancing pressure with discipline. Mateer is at his most dangerous when plays break down and he is forced to improvise.
If the fully healthy version of Mateer shows up in Columbia, Mizzou will face one of the SEC’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. If last year’s inconsistency proves to be more than just the product of an injured hand, the Tigers will have an opportunity to slow Oklahoma’s offense once again.
Ellis Robinson IV
School: Georgia
Position: CB
Class: RS Sophomore
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hometown: New Haven, Conn.
What He’s Done
Ellis Robinson IV arrived at Georgia with enormous expectations. The New Haven, Connecticut native was one of the nation’s top recruits out of IMG Academy and possessed all the physical tools Kirby Smart covets in a cornerback. At 6-0 and 180 lbs., Robinson combines excellent speed, fluid hips and outstanding ball skills with the confidence required to play on an island against elite SEC receivers.
His freshman season in 2024 was largely a learning experience as Robinson appeared in just four games, preserving his redshirt while gaining valuable experience behind one of the deepest defenses in college football.
Everything changed in 2025 when Robinson stepped into a starting role as a redshirt freshman and immediately established himself as one of the SEC’s premier cover corners. He finished the season with 20 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass breakups, showing the instincts and ball skills that made him one of the nation’s most coveted recruits.
For his efforts, Robinson was named the national FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, earned recognition on multiple Freshman All-America teams and was selected second-team All-SEC, a remarkable accomplishment for a first-year starter in the SEC.
Perhaps most impressive was how quickly quarterbacks learned to avoid him. Even with relatively few passes thrown his direction, Robinson still managed four interceptions and seven pass breakups, evidence of a defender whose combination of athleticism, instincts and confidence already places him among the nation’s top young cornerbacks.
What He’ll Do
After his breakout campaign, Robinson enters 2026 with expectations of becoming one of the nation’s elite defensive backs. Georgia once again projects to field one of the SEC’s best defenses, and Robinson is expected to anchor the secondary. With a full season of starting experience now behind him, the next step is developing into a true shutdown corner capable of eliminating one side of the field.
Robinson’s physical traits certainly suggest that he has that kind of ceiling. He has the length and athleticism to match virtually any receiver in man coverage while also possessing outstanding ball skills when quarterbacks decide to test him. His emergence gives Georgia another potential first-round NFL Draft pick in the secondary, continuing a tradition that has become commonplace under Smart.
If his ball production continues at last season’s pace, Robinson could find himself in the conversation for first-team All-SEC and All-America honors by year’s end.
Mizzou Matchup
Unlike several other SEC opponents on Mizzou’s schedule, Robinson has never faced the Tigers. Georgia and Mizzou haven’t played since 2023, meaning this year’s matchup will be Robinson’s first opportunity to test himself against the Tigers.
Robinson thrives in press coverage, where his athleticism and instincts allow him to stay attached to receivers throughout the route. Quarterbacks are often forced to look elsewhere when he is in single coverage, and his ability to turn inaccurate throws into interceptions makes him particularly dangerous.
For Mizzou, patience will be important. Corey Batoon’s defense may garner much of the attention entering the game, but the Tigers’ offense cannot afford to give Georgia short fields by forcing throws into Robinson’s coverage. Instead, Simmons will need to identify favorable matchups elsewhere and take calculated shots when opportunities present themselves.
Georgia annually produces elite defensive backs, but Robinson appears to have the talent to become the next great Bulldog corner. His breakout season in 2025 was likely only the beginning, and Mizzou will have to account for one of the nation’s best young cover men when the two programs finally meet again.
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