The Oklahoma Sooners waded deep into the transfer portal to earn a commitment from the top quarterback in the class, John Mateer. Mateer led the nation in total touchdowns with 44 and accounted for nearly 4,000 yards of offense.
The Sooners added a dynamic weapon to help lead their offense under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Though the connection to his former offensive coordinator proved significant, the Sooners faced challengers on the recruiting trail.
The Miami Hurricanes, who’d found great success with another former Washington State and Ben Arbuckle product, Heisman finalist Cam Ward, attempted to lure Mateer to South Beach. But they weren’t the only ones making a play for the dynamic dual-threat quarterback.
According to Georgia Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3 and radio play-by-play voice for the Oklahoma Sooners, Toby Rowland, the Sooners had to withstand a late push from legendary head coach Bill Belichick.
The former New England Patriots six-time Super Bowl champion, now with the North Carolina Tar Heels, reportedly appealed for Mateer to come to UNC. However, a pitch from former Sooners Heisman winner Baker Mayfield sealed the deal for Mateer to commit to Oklahoma.
Mateer signed a name, image, and likeness deal with the 1Oklahoma collective, who released this Christmas-inspired video announcing the agreement.
Oklahoma had a lot in its favor in this recruiting battle, but they still had to fend off pushes from Miami, who’s been very effective in the transfer portal market and a legend of the game in Bill Belichick. It was a team approach from the coaching staff and players to a Sooner legend, and the 1Oklahoma collective to push this recruitment over the finish line.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners fend off coaching legend to land transfer QB John Mateer
