Oklahoma Sooners starting quarterback John Mateer and his coaches have already spoken this spring about what he’s working to improve on for his final season of college football in 2026. While the offense as a whole focuses on establishing a physical, punishing rushing attack, Mateer has been working to improve his footwork and mechanics, in order to get better at “playing quarterback”.

Two former OU stars, offensive lineman Gabe Ikard and linebacker Teddy Lehman, the co-hosts of “The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman“, laid down another challenge for Mateer this spring, one they hope he makes a goal over the next few weeks.

“I think one of John Mateer’s main goals throughout spring should be to remind every guy in that locker room that he’s one of the best in the country, that he’s the real deal, that he gives them a chance to win each and every game that they step on the field for,” Ikard said.

The former three-time first-team All-Big 12 offensive lineman then elaborated on his point, emphasizing that Mateer needs to balance the line between facilitating and running the show.

“I think that the main way you do that is you go out to practice, you make the easy decisions, you distribute the football, but you still are aggressive and you make the big-time plays that makes everyone go, ‘Dang dude. Okay.’ I think there’s something to that for Mateer this spring. It’s like reminding every guy that, ‘Hey, I’m that dude. Don’t forget it,'” Ikard said.

John Mateer needs to remind everyone in that OU locker room that he’s THAT DUDE.

Full breakdown of OU’s quarterbacks: https://t.co/vHOLEyqJllpic.twitter.com/5h1M6yxFce

— The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman (@OK_Breakdown) April 2, 2026

Mateer has always been a gunslinger, even back to his days in high school in Texas at Little Elm, or his days at Washington State, all the way up to his time at OU. His raw athletic ability and knack for the incredible have served him well, getting him to where he is now, the starting quarterback at Oklahoma.

However, with a surgically-repaired thumb on his throwing hand, and playing against the toughest defenses in the country in the SEC, Mateer’s production slipped over the last eight games of last season. With a focus put on improving his ability to throw from the pocket, along with an emphasis on taking what the defense gives him instead of always making the hero play, Mateer and his coaches expect him to be the best he’s been this year.

As Ikard and Lehman outlined, this spring is the opportunity for Mateer to show every player, coach, and support-staffer on the field that’s he’s got what it takes to help lead the Sooners where they want to go this season. As he trains himself to be more efficient and take the easy completions, he’ll always have his gunslinging nature, and his ability to make plays that other QBs simply can’t, that he can fall back on when he needs them this season.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Former OU stars challenge John Mateer to show out this spring