Jordan Rodgers says Oklahoma QB John Mateer is ‘guy to beat’ in the Heisman race
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Jordan Rodgers is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Norman. If he pulls up to O’Connell’s this weekend while SEC Nation is in town, he probably won’t have to pay for his drinks.
The SEC Network analyst and former Vanderbilt quarterback was one of the few national talking heads prior to the season who stressed that the hype surrounding Texas quarterback Arch Manning didn’t match the tape.
Instead, Rodgers is more enamored by the quarterback on the other side of the Red River divide. During an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on Wednesday, Rodgers said Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is the Heisman Trophy frontrunner in his eyes.
“He has been a baller. Nobody throws with more swagger, more anticipation, more confidence. He’s throwing it sidearm, submarine at times. He has been unbelievable, especially running the football,” Rodgers said. “He accounted for 84% of Oklahoma’s total yards against Michigan. He ran the football 19 times. He’s been electric on the ground and through the air. He’s the guy to beat right now in the Heisman race.”
Earlier on Wednesday, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt said Mateer has been the best quarterback of the young season. He agreed that Mateer is among the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy.
Mateer has completed 67.6% of his passes for 944 yards and 5 scores through the air, while adding 161 yards and 4 scores on the ground. He has the Sooners off to a 3-0 start to the season, a record that is punctuated by a 24-13 win over then-No. 15 Michigan during which Mateer accounted for 344 yards of offense and 3 total touchdowns.
Per the latest Heisman Trophy odds, Mateer has the second-shortest odds of any player in the country to win the award. Miami’s Carson Beck is the outright favorite, though Mateer (+900, via BetMGM) is close on his heels.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
