Danny Kanell compares John Mateer to college football, SEC legend
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Danny Kanell invoked a legendary name in college football and SEC history when talking about Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer in Saturday morning’s leadup to the Sooners’ big Week 2 matchup at The Big House.
No. 11 Oklahoma faces a big road test against Michigan that kicked off at noon ET on FOX, and Mateer will be at the center of it all. Kanell, a CBS Sports college football analyst, views Mateer in a very esteemed place already in the sport, and during Saturday morning’s pregame show he compared the Sooners’ signal-caller to Florida legend Tim Tebow.
Yes, that’s right. The great Tebow, who quarterbacked the Gators a few decades ago, was part of a couple of national championships and became a college football icon during his time in Gainesville.
That Tebow. Mateer obviously hasn’t accomplished what Tebow did at Florida, not even close — but Kanell, who played quarterback down the road from Gainesville at Florida State, thinks Mateer has the goods.
“You know who Mateer reminds me of? He reminds me of Tebow when Tebow was at Florida,” Kanell said. “And it kind of hit me when he started getting all jacked up, he was huge. Because I actually think that impacted Tebow’s ability to throw the football. Negatively. You don’t see guys muscle the ball out there.
“But here’s what I think Mateer can do. I think he’s going to outrush (Michigan quarterback) Bryce Underwood. Think about those moments in short-yardage situations. when Tebow would just take it with that quarterback lead, take it and run up the middle. I think those are the plays that Mateer brings to Oklahoma’s offense. Short yardage. He is not afraid to put his head down and go get you those tough yards. And his teammates love that. And I think he’s that emotional-type leader that Tebow was to Florida. He brings that to Oklahoma.”
Mateer will be trying to lead the Sooners to a big road win at The Big House on Saturday. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Oklahoma’s chances to do just that in the Week 2 showdown in its quest to get to 2-0 on the young season:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
