Oklahoma star quarterback John Mateer is taking a unique approach to staying locked in by logging off, as he prepares to take the reins of Oklahoma’s offense. The fourth-year QB transferred in had a starting role and shouldered key responsibility at Washington State.
Mateer wrapped up his three-year tenure, guiding the Cougars through an up-and-down season that ended with an 8-5 record in 2024. With the pressure mounting ahead of the 2025 season with Brent Venables’ Sooners, the star QB has removed himself from social media, aiming to eliminate distractions and focus entirely on football.
Oklahoma QB John Mateer Disconnects To Focus on the Job Ahead
Speaking at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., Mateer shared a word with On3’s Nick Schultz on how he took proactive steps to avoid outside noise. That included deleting X (formerly known as Twitter) from his phone and limiting his usage to just a few times a week.
“I deleted Twitter, or I, like, removed it,” Mateer said. “I check it like once every four days. I was really, really bad with that stuff and looking at what people said about me. I do the best I can do discipline myself and not look at any of it. Because the good is cool, but the good is good until I suck and then the good is horrible and those same people, they hate me. Not actually, but on the field.”
Oklahoma QB John Mateer added a screen time limit to his social media ahead of the 2025 season🔒📵
“The good is cool, but the good is good until I suck and then the good is horrible and those same people, they hate me. Not actually, but on the field.”https://t.co/hA6OP8aDet pic.twitter.com/IRJTlWofoM
— On3 (@On3sports) June 27, 2025
Mateer added a screen time limit to reduce his phone use further, noting that he felt like a “zombie” scrolling aimlessly. “Even more recently, when that came out is right when I started screen time [limits]. So I didn’t look at it, people sent it to me, and I tried to not look at it because it don’t matter,” he said.
The Sooners are hoping Mateer’s off-field discipline leads to on-field success. The star QB, after transferring from Washington State, where he was rated the No. 3 player in the transfer portal by the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings, Mateer arrives in Norman with plenty of hype. He posted video game numbers last season, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while also registering seven interceptions.
With Oklahoma coming off a frustrating 6-7 campaign in its first SEC season, the need for a consistent quarterback presence is paramount. The Sooners’ 2024 campaign was marred by instability under center, cycling between Jackson Arnold and true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. After the season, Arnold transferred to Auburn, leaving the door wide open for Mateer to step in and lead.
Despite the buzz and a possible Heisman contention, Mateer says he’s setting his own bar for success. “I love it,” he said. “Not because it’s other people’s expectations. I have my own. … Throwing yesterday, I don’t want to say too much, but it gave me a little confidence that it could happen. I fit right in with these dudes.”
Not the First CFB Star: Heisman Winner Travis Hunter Among Others Who Logged Off
Mateer isn’t alone in unplugging from social media. Former Colorado star WR and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter also chose to remove himself from online platforms, albeit for personal reasons. After deleting his Instagram account last December, Hunter said the change brought him peace during a candid discussion on The Travis Hunter Show on Jan. 23, 2024.
“It’s bettered me. I live life happy. I walk around the house happy not having social media,” Hunter said. “Watching YouTube, on the phone with my friends, playing a game with my friends, just having fun. I just got a different type of joy in me now, not having that stress.”
Similarly, Northwestern defensive back Robert Fitzgerald deleted his X account following backlash for a controversial hit during a game against Ohio State. After receiving a wave of criticism, Fitzgerald pulled the plug on his profile to avoid the online fallout.
Social media can sometimes become distracting for players, and more players like Mateer are taking measures to refocus, whether to block out criticism or reclaim mental clarity. It might just make a difference on Saturdays, though only time will tell how much benefit the QB from Little Elm, Texas, will reap from this major step.
