WATCH: Oklahoma QB John Mateer at SEC Media Days

ATLANTA — Watch as new Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer fielded questions from the media in the main room at SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame.

He conducted a second press conference of the day from the podium in Atlanta, where he fielded a range of questions.

Mateer discussed the development of wide receiver Deion Burks, who opted to return to Norman after an injury-riddled season meant he never really got going in 2024.

He was also asked about his abilities as a mobile quarterback, and how essential those skills are for a modern college quarterback.

Mateer then discussed how teaching new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's offense has helped him improve as a decision maker.

Finally, Mateer touched on his experience this summer at the Manning Passing Academy, where he was mentored by a number of prominent football figures including Jon Gruden and Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead, as well as his impressions of new Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

Mateer was joined by OU head coach Brent Venables, Oklahoma's standout edge rusher R Mason Thomas and safety Robert Spears-Jennings as the Sooners' representatives at SEC Media Days, which serves as the unofficial kickoff of the 2025 college football season.

Published Jul 16, 2025 | Modified Jul 17, 2025

JOHN HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK.

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