John Mateer, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and human dynamo, is a name familiar to all in college football today. He came from Little Elm High School as a star player in Texas and to the NCAA as a top transfer due to his athletic hard work. Added to his motivation, though, is a proud athletic heritage. Let us meet the sporting family history that has culminated in this talented performer.
The Sporting Background of John Mateer’s Parents
John, raised and born in Little Elm, Texas, attributes his sporting gift to his parents, Stephen Mateer and Judy Mateer. The two were excellent swimmers who fostered a love for sports in John at a tender age.
John’s father, Stephen Mateer, was a University of Missouri competitive swimmer. His interest in swimming didn’t stop there; he shifted to coaching and has been active in the world of swimming.
John Mateer’s blue-chip teammates at WSU: 0
John Mateer’s blue-chip teammates at OU: 48If you think Mateer’s 2024 season is worthless based on competition, you have to explain how he won’t benefit from a better surrounding cast. pic.twitter.com/D7snnQLINF
— The Main Line Podcast (@TheMainLinePod) May 27, 2025
Since 2013, Stephen Mateer has been the coach development coordinator for Lakeside Aquatic Club. He coaches young coaches and instills discipline and hard work. His awards include Texas Senior Coach of the Year and USA Swimming Coach of Excellence.
John’s mother, Judy Mateer, is equally impressive in her swimming history. She competed for the U.S. Naval Academy and then transferred to Southern Methodist University, where she continued her athletic and academic career. Judy Mateer has succeeded in healthcare consulting as a professional, senior account executive at Point6 Healthcare, and senior account consultant at Marsh McLennan Agency.
Despite their swimming backgrounds, Stephen Mateer and Judy Mateer soon found that John’s interest did not lie that way. They fully endorsed his love for football, providing him the means and encouragement to follow his dream.
John Mateer’s Football Journey
John started his football career at Little Elm High School, where he was soon recognized as a dual-threat quarterback. His senior season was extremely impressive, awe-inspiring, with 9 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he ran for 847 yards and 15 touchdowns, for which he was given the District 5- 6A Offensive Player of the Year.
He was rated three stars and committed to Washington State University in 2022. He redshirted his first year and had minimal playing time as a freshman in 2023. However, he shone as a freshman in 2024, when he was the quarterback.
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He completed 3,139 yards and 29 touchdown passes, alongside 826 rushing yards and 15 touchdown runs. This impressed him with the Pac-12 Offensive Top Performer of the Season award.
John entered the transfer portal in December 2024 and soon committed to the University of Oklahoma. He decided to do so because he saw the potential of working with former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and playing back home.
Mateer opened the 2025 season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender, leading Oklahoma to a 4-0 start with signature wins over No. 15 Michigan and No. 22 Auburn. However, a hand injury suffered against Auburn marked a turning point in his season. Before the injury, Mateer passed for 1,215 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in four games. Over the final seven games of the regular season, those numbers dipped to 1,363 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions, raising concerns about Oklahoma’s offensive consistency heading into the College Football Playoff.
Now, with No. 8 Oklahoma set to host No. 9 Alabama in a pivotal CFP matchup, Mateer’s performance looms large. He was limited to just 138 passing yards in his previous playoff appearance, and if the Sooners are to defeat Alabama for the third time in 13 months, they will need a return to the dynamic version of Mateer that defined their early-season surge.
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