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It’s watch list season in college football. With college football kicking off in less than three weeks and the Oklahoma Sooners taking the field in less than four weeks, plenty of OU players are being recognized ahead of the 2025 college football season. The biggest name on the roster has already appeared on one watch list, but was named to another on Tuesday.
New starting quarterback John Mateer has been named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. The trophy is given annually to the college football player of the year, with Colorado’s Travis Hunter taking home the award in 2024. Any player, regardless of position, is eligible to win the award.
If Mateer were to win the Walter Camp Award, he’d be the fifth different Oklahoma player to do so. Running backs Steve Owens (1969) and Billy Sims (1978) won the Walter Camp, with quarterbacks Josh Heupel (2000) and Baker Mayfield (2017) representing OU in the current era.
Mateer has received plenty of offseason hype after following new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma from Washington State. Mateer has been OU’s starter since the moment he signed with the Sooners, and fans hope he’s in line for a big 2025 season in a familiar offense and an improved supporting cast. He broke out last year with a huge 2024, where he led the FBS in total touchdowns with 44.
After a historically bad offensive performance a year ago, the Sooners hope that Mateer will be the catalyst to getting things back on track on that side of the ball. With head coach Brent Venables’ defense looking primed for another good year, offensive improvement is one of the major keys to OU rebounding from a disastrous 6-7 season.
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