Oklahoma's 2025 season opener is still a little more than 10 weeks away, but a couple of the Sooners' newest additions are already receiving some buzz for next year's NFL Draft.
ESPN NFL Draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid on Friday published a piece ranking the top-five draft prospects at each position for next April's draft, and while no Oklahoma players were listed among the top-five at their respective positions, two of them — quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott — were identified as the biggest potential stock-risers outside the top five.
The two analysts had Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Penn State's Drew Allar, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Indiana's Fernando Mendoz and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier in their respective rankings at quarterback — though in varying orders — with Reid picking Mateer as a name to watch this fall. Mateer, of course, transferred to Oklahoma this offseason after starting his career at Washington State, where he stepped into the starting role last season under and flourished under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Oklahoma hired Arbuckle as its offensive coordinator in December, and Mateer followed shortly thereafter. In his first year as a starter, Mateer engineered one of the nation's most prolific offenses, as Washington State ranked sixth nationally in points per game (36.6) while the Little Elm, Texas, native turned in one of the most productive seasons in the country at quarterback. Mateer completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 9 yards per pass attempt. He also rushed for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the FBS.
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Here's what Reid said about Mateer's potential to rise as a draft prospect over the next 10 months:
"Mateer has the makings of a riser. He broke out last season at Washington State, passing for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores. He'll get a chance to perform on a bigger stage after transferring to Oklahoma. If Mateer excels against the SEC -- along with a Week 2 nonconference game against Michigan -- his stock will rise quickly."
As for the running back position, Miller had Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, Texas' CJ Baxter, Oregon's Makhi Hughes, Penn State's Kaytron Allen and his teammate Nicholas Singleton in his top five. Reid listed Love, Singleton, Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne, Texas' Quintrevion Wisner and Washington's Jonah Coleman—though he believes Ott, the transfer from California, will have a chance to enter the discussion.
Ott transferred to OU in April after spending the last three seasons at Cal. He was hindered by an ankle injury last season, which limited him to 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns, along with 222 receiving yards and a score, in 10 games. However, he was one of the nation's top running backs during a completely healthy sophomore campaign in 2023, when he racked up 1,315 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry and caught 25 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
Here's what Reid said about Ott's potential to climb in the eyes of NFL teams this year:
"Ott entered last season with considerable 2025 draft buzz after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns at Cal in 2023. But his 2024 campaign was spoiled by a Week 1 right ankle injury that lingered the entire season, holding him to 385 yards and four touchdowns. Ott has since transferred to Oklahoma and is looking to bounce back as a senior."
Interestingly, neither Miller nor Reid listed Oklahoma All-SEC performer R Mason Thomas among their top-five edge rusher prospects at this point in the calendar.