John Mateer will head into his second year as OU’s starting quarterback having worked to improve his focus and mechanics, with a revamped offense around him.
Mateer said at SEC Media Days Monday that he feels a shift in how he sees the game. The redshirt senior has spent extensive time in the film room this summer, working with head coach Brent Venables, and even took note of how former Pittsburgh Steelers two-time-Super-Bowl-MVP quarterback Terry Bradshaw surveyed defenses.
“Making plays is a lot of fun, so want those to happen, which is true,” Mateer said. “But staying on schedule, learning how to win the game is a big one. I think that's true. Like watching more film, learning scheme on scheme, stuff like that, that's the biggest difference.”
Mateer has also studied film extensively alongside senior wide receiver Trell Harris, who transferred from Virginia in the offseason. Harris was injured in the spring but is now “really close” to a return, head coach Brent Venables told local media at SEC Media Days.
Mateer is excited to play with Harris, who recorded over 800 receiving yards in the ACC last season.
“It's been a lot of fun … just being around each other,” Mateer said. “He would come over and eat a meal together. We watched his film last year together. You know what he's thinking, so I can see how he moves. And it's been great. I have no doubt (in) Trell Harris; I believe in him. And he's a great friend to me. It's going to be a lot of fun.”
Harris is not the only new option for Mateer at receiver, either. Redshirt sophomore Parker Livingstone joined after recording 516 receiving yards in his freshman season at Texas. Livingstone, combined with Harris and Isaiah Sategna, who represented OU on the 2025 all-SEC second team, form an experienced, explosive trio.
"You combine Trell, Sategna and Parker, that makes the receivers room one of the most experienced receiver rooms in the country," Venables said.
Mateer is also surrounded by a revamped tight end room, including transfers Rocky Beers and Hayden Hansen. Beers finished with 388 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season, while Hansen had 254 yards and two touchdowns. The group is led by former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who Mateer has already bonded with.
“I was just at the Manning Passing Academy, so I mean, I put him on that level,” Mateer said. “Definitely, you just hang around guys like that, and there's gold. They're just giving you gold all the time. And so I'm around him as much as I can, and luckily he calls me. He gives me that wisdom. He wants to share his wisdom, and we've seen that in the offense. It's been great. And he's a great dude, and to get the great dude and great wisdom and great coach, there's not a whole lot of people like that. But he's one of them, and I can't say enough good things about him.”
As Mateer works to grow his decision-making in the filmroom and connect with his new teammates, he also looks to improve his throwing mechanics. While on the SEC Network during media days, he was transparent about overadjusting following his thumb injury, forcing him into a sidearm motion.
“You watch it, and the elbow dropped a little bit to be able to come across, … I believe, (because of the thumb), …” Mateer said. “There's a clip against Mizzou, (where) it's like direct on. It's a fade, and I just cringe. It's a front side flying open, coming across, but it's like I didn't have a choice. I had to compensate. I had to adapt. So now it's keeping it tighter.”
This story was edited by Joshua Franklin.
