Baker Mayfield offers advice to OU quarterback John Mateer

When John Mateer visited OU in December, he received a call from Baker Mayfield.

This story is well-known now, as Mateer told the media about their conversation when he first arrived in Norman. But on Saturday, seven months later, Mayfield shared his thoughts on Mateer and the advice he offered him.

“He was still deciding,” Mayfield said at his youth camp in Norman. “You can’t force somebody to do something they don’t want to. I told him everything I would’ve said. If you want a chance to go shine in a place that will truly embrace for everything you are, this is the place to be. The tradition here, you can’t beat it. The atmosphere once you start winning, people will rally around you. It’s up to him now.”

Since Mateer transferred to OU, he’s received a lot of comparisons to Mayfield, who won the Heisman Trophy at OU in 2017. The two not only look alike, but play alike.

Mateer, like Mayfield, plays with an edge.

“I think he’s a guy who also wears his emotions on his sleeve,” Mayfield said. “Hard worker. You can tell the stuff he does off the field with the guys carries over to how they play for him. There’s a lot of similarities in that aspect. But you never want to try to be someone else. So he’s going to be the best version of himself, but I can see the comparisons.”

For Mateer, he doesn’t want to be Mayfield. He wants to create his own legacy at OU.

“I hope I’m compared to Baker a little less,” Mateer told SoonerScoop. “I understand. We kind of look alike and play alike. But I think the fire I play with doesn’t come from wanting to be like Baker. It’s just how John Mateer plays football. It’s a little different brand. It might be the same style, but shit, I’m not trying to be Baker. He’s great. I’m honored. It’s no disrespect to him. We have the same toughness and passion for the game, so I get it, but I have my own style. And like Baker, I embrace the community and I embrace my teammates and I embrace the tradition at OU. 

“Maybe that’s me taking it for granted, being compared to someone like that. Maybe that’s a fault. It’s cool. It’s awesome. I don’t want to be negative about it, but it’s a little repetitive. He’s great and I’m trying to be great, too, but in a different way. My way.”

The ironic part of that statement is that is exactly what Mayfield would say. And that’s why Mayfield likes Mateer.

Mayfield, who is now the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said he was familiar with Mateer long before the two chatted on the phone. He’s become a fan of the now Sooner quarterback. And believes he could have a big year at Oklahoma.

“Obviously, before I knew he was coming here, as a fan of college football you watch college football, I love the way he plays,” Mayfield said. “I think there’s some similarities in our game, just the way he carries himself. You can tell leadership goes a long way with him. I love that. And I’m excited he came in and we’ll see what happens, but it’s exciting.”

Mayfield said he plans to hang out with Mateer while in Norman this weekend. And will talk with him throughout the season, offering any advice he can.

Mateer is hopeful he can follow in Mayfield’s footsteps, as an underrecruited quarterback from Texas who transferred to OU. That would certainly be a welcome sight for Oklahoma fans, who still adore Mayfield.

“I think he’s pretty comfortable in the underdog role,” Mayfield said. “We can relate on that part.”