Brent Venables ‘thrilled’ about QB John Mateer joining OU football team

On December 28, 2024By Littum

FORT WORTH, Texas – OU football coach Brent Venables and Navy coach Brian Newberry participated in the pregame press conference Thursday prior to the Armed Forces Bowl.

The Sooners and Midshipmen starts at 11 a.m. Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Here are five takeaways from the press conference:

OU football coach Brent Venables said Thursday Before would have 56 scholarship players available for Friday’s Armed Forces Bowl against Navy, at linebacker Danny Stutsman and security Billy Bowman are the only two players to opt out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

The others not taking part include the players who entered the transfer portal and 11 players who are injured.

Venables said Stutsman and Bowman have remained with the team and are on the trip, but would not participate in the game.

“Obviously where we are today is different to where we started the season,” Venables said.

These available scholarship players include defensive end R Murer Thomas. OU’s NIL collective announced that Thomas will return for next season Tuesday, but the post was soon deleted.

Venables did not provide an update on the status of wide receiver Deion Burks, who would be the only non-scholarship wide receiver available if he was able to play.

Burks missed all but one of the last eight games due to injury.

“When he’s healthy, he’s a great player,” Venables said of Burks. “He is one of the best competitors we have on the team. He has a very dynamic ability to play both outside and inside.”

Incoming offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has been working with the quarterbacks during bowl prep and will serve as the quarterbacks coach in the bowl, although Joe Jon Finley will remain the playcaller.

The move came after interim quarterbacks coach Kevin Johns accepted a job on Oklahoma State’s staff.

“I think probably the most important part of this transition is that he’s been able to build those relationships,” Venables said of Arbuckle.

OU football coach Brent Venables on how new OC Ben Arbuckle is settling in with the Sooners

OU football coach Brent Venables comments on how new OC Ben Arbuckle is settling in with the Sooners ahead of Friday’s Armed Forces Bowl game against Navy.

The Sooners are unlikely to add much defensively

Most of OU’s transfer portal activity so far has come from the offensive end, with eight of the nine portal commitments being offensive players.

The only other addition came on special teams.

Venables said there would not be a rush of defensive additions.

“We’ll have a few more on offense,” Venables said. “We don’t have a lot of needs. We have tremendous retention on the defensive side of the ball.”

Venables didn’t say much when asked about one of those additions to the transfer portal, Washington State quarterback John Mateer, saying he preferred to keep the focus on Friday’s game.

But Venables was asked several questions about the portal addition.

“Delighted with John,” said Venables. “… John’s a leader. He’s experienced. He’s got great arm talent. Really good instincts. He’s going to make us better.”

There has been some buzz that the opening weekend of the College Football Playoff could be moved up a week.

That would mean the annual Army-Navy clash would go from being the lone battle of the day to sharing the limelight.

That’s not something Marine coach Brian Newberry, an Oklahoma City native and Westmoore graduate, advocates.

“I think it’s incredibly important to continue the integrity of that date and when it’s played,” Newberry said. “I would hate to take away from that. I love that they kept the integrity of that game this year, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that going forward.”

—Ryan Aber, staff writer

Ryan Aber covers OU athletics for The Oklahoman. Got a story idea for Ryan? He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @RyAber. Sign up OU Sooners newsletter to access more OU coverage. Support Ryan’s work and the work of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

Armed Forces Bowl: OU vs. Navy

KICKOFF: 11 a.m. Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas (ESPN)