Realistic Expectations Set for Brent Venables’ Sooners as 1215-Yard Weapon Injury Scare Puts Spotlight on John Mateer

Brent Venables dealing with injury issues is becoming a recurring theme. And this year, he’s got things to prove. After getting crushed in their inaugural SEC ride stumbling through a 6-7 season, Oklahoma is desperate for a come-back. The fourth year HC is 22-17 overall (12-14 in SEC). Not exactly the stuff of legends. But here’s the thing. There’s buzz again in Norman. Why? The arrival of QB John Mateer. But just when the optimism started to build, a spring injury threw a wrench into everything.

Oklahoma’s WR unit is a mess that started from last season. Soonerscoop.com Eddie Radosevich joined The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast on a May 8 episode to drop his take on the receiving unit and the injury concerns. “The wide receiver unit was as injured and just maligned as you could possibly be last year,” he said. “They were basically down their top seven wide receivers. It added to the problems that Jackson Arnold had in connecting with some of those guys early in the season.” So Brent Venables tried to flip the script bringing in more receiving weapons including Javonnie Gibson. But well, let’s just say their top portal WR was quietly dominating camp before a brutal injury sidelined him. 

Nov 12, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables argues a call with an official during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Javonnie Gibson, a transfer from Arkansas Pine Bluff, had it. The 6’3, 205-receiver racked up 70 receptions for 1,215 yards and nine TDs. Transferring to Norman, he was torching defenses all spring until a leg injury sidelined him. “He actually broke basically his foot in the third to last practice this spring and he was having an unbelievable camp,” the insider said. It happened mid April and Brent Venables spoke on the matter then, “He had surgery a couple of days ago. He got rolled up on in practice, unfortunately. If he just stays on schedule, he’ll be back to start the season and be back with us.”

Oklahoma flipped the script this offseason. Instead of blowing $2-3 million on one flashy portal WR, they went volume shopping. Besides Gibson, the Sooners also brought in Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, Southern Illinois Keontez Lewis, and Cal transfer Josiah Martin. As for high school additions, they signed Elijah Thomas and Emmanuel Choice. Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson return too. And while none of them scream WR1, the Sooners’ are banking on depth over dazzle this time around. “The bar is set so low for Oklahoma to just be better offensively that they really don’t have to do much,” Eddie added. “I think that they’re headed in the right direction. It’s going to help that they have a much better offensive line though this season.” And this brings us to John Mateer.

Can John Mateer bring a change to Norman?

After finishing 119th in passing last year, Oklahoma just needed to be average to feel like a win. A better O-line helps, sure. But everything hinges on their QB staying upright and playing like the hope he is expected to be. John Mateer’s arrival via the portal from Washington State, along with his OC Ben Arbuckle, has OU fans cautiously optimistic. Even CBSSports analyst Josh Pate gave them a nod saying, “Oklahoma’s made some really, really good moves here” highlighting the acquisition of the QB and his OC. Perhaps, a move that could solve the QB issue that haunted them in 2024. 

This guy’s been a force at Washington State throwing for over 3,000 yards and 44 TDs. The question is if he can continue racking up that kind of production in the SEC. But the QB room isn’t without problems. If John Mateer goes down, there’s no Cole Gonzales to fall back on. The guy dipped into the transfer portal following spring practice. And that injury blow to Javonnie Gibson? That could hurt the chemistry even if he does get back before the regular season. 

So yeah, Brent Venables won with John Mateer but it’s still early to say what will happen in 2025. And if the Sooners can’t start winning now, the walls are going to close in fast. 

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