Brent Venables dismisses concerns about John Mateer, Jaydn Ott facing SEC defenses
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables doesn’t buy into concerns that John Mateer and Jaydn Ott will struggle against SEC defenses.
Mateer and Ott headline the additions for the Oklahoma offense via the transfer portal. Both have put up impressive numbers in their careers, but they played in other conferences. The SEC boasts some of the nation’s toughest defenses, but Venables said plenty of newcomers find success entering the league.
“I don’t know much fits they’re gonna give the SEC,” Venables said in response to a media question. “I know a lot of people in here have made comments that they’re gonna really struggle in the SEC because this isn’t Wyoming and whoever else that we’re quantifying that against.
“I don’t see how’s that different from ‘Oh, he hasn’t played in the SEC.’ Well, how about a freshman quarterback playing in the SEC? He hadn’t played in the SEC either, right? But there’s been plenty of young players that never played college football until their freshman year, and then they do really well.”
Venables continued, saying Mateer and Ott have shown plenty of reasons why they’ll be successful in their first SEC season.
“I think for those guys in particular, why I believe in them, I think they’ve got a lot of natural talent. I think they’ve got instincts. They’ve got belief. They’ve got tremendous work ethic. They’ve got humility to be prepared to show up every day, to strain to get better, fight when things aren’t going their way.”
While Mateer and Ott may face some doubters entering the 2025 season, the OU newcomers are being hyped by others. SEC Network analyst Chris Doering made the bold prediction that Mateer will win SEC Player of the Year and the Heisman Trophy. Ott made SDS’s predictions for the top 5 SEC rushers in 2025.
Brent Venables was asked how many fits John Mateer and Jaydn Ott will bring to SEC defenses.
— The REF (@KREFsports) July 30, 2025
“I know a lot of people of people in here have made comments that they’re going to really struggle in the SEC, ‘cause this isn’t Wyoming and whoever else we’re quantifying that against.” pic.twitter.com/uVVjVQUGhR
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
