Tim Tebow says Mateer’s fearlessness, and swagger set him apart
Oklahoma football has had its share of star quarterbacks, but when Tim Tebow, one of college football’s most decorated players, singles you out, people take notice. Ahead of No. 22 Auburn’s visit to Norman, Tebow had high praise for Sooners quarterback John Mateer, calling him a player with rare qualities.
“I love watching him play,” Tebow said Friday on SEC Nation. “I absolutely love it.”
That’s not a light endorsement. Tebow, a two-time national champion and 2007 Heisman winner, knows firsthand what greatness at the college level looks like. And in Mateer, he sees it.
Tebow pointed to Mateer’s reputation inside the locker room. “Strength coaches, other coaches, players. They talk about the work ethic, the determination when he showed up,” Tebow said. For Tebow, how teammates talk about you matters as much as the stat sheet.
Tebow spotlighted Mateer’s versatility and swagger, even comparing him to a former SEC Heisman winner. “There’s a little bit where you can see Johnny Manziel with his game, just that twitchy factor,” Tebow said. Mateer has already piled up 944 passing yards, nine total touchdowns, and 161 rushing yards in three starts.
Finally, Tebow addressed Mateer’s fearlessness, even when it borders on risky. “If you’re an Oklahoma fan, he puts it into some tight windows,” Tebow admitted. But he quickly added that Mateer’s “grit” and “reckless abandon” are traits that galvanize the Sooners.
With Auburn looming, Tebow’s words give OU fans reason to believe Mateer isn’t just a good quarterback, he’s the kind who can define a program.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Nick Saban on Browns' Derrick Henry diss: Try 'tackling his ass every day'
- LSU lands top 2027 blue-chip QB Peyton Houston
- The hard truth about Arch Manning's injury situation
- Why Shedeur Sanders told NFL teams not to draft him