Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle sees flashes of the best way John Mateer interacted with Cam Ward at Washington State in the best way Michael Hawkins Jr. has interacted with Mateer to this point this season at Oklahoma.
Hawkins will make his first begin of the season Saturday when the No. 5 Sooners (4-0) tackle nonconference opponent Kent State (1-3) in Norman, Okla.
Mateer is out after sustaining a damaged hand within the first quarter of a Sept. 20 win over then-No. 22 Auburn. Whereas serving as Ward’s backup with the Cougars in 2023, Mateer realized the significance of getting a well-prepared substitute able to roll.
“I believe that caught with John,” mentioned Arbuckle, the OC at Washington State from 2023-24. “I believe John is aware of, ‘it is not all about me, you realize. I’ve received to guarantee that I am making everybody higher.'”
Hawkins began 4 video games final season because the Sooners bounced between him and Jackson Arnold on the spot.
That was an Oklahoma staff that was depleted at vast receiver. This season, the Sooners have been significantly better out vast.
This Oklahoma staff has 4 gamers averaging at the least 50 receiving yards per sport, led by tight finish Jaren Kanak’s 76.8. Isaiah Sategna III, Deion Burks and Keontez Lewis have mixed for 5 landing catches.
“I really feel prefer it’s an excellent state of affairs to be in proper now,” Hawkins mentioned. ” … Being within the hearth final yr helped me rather a lot simply with my course of and realizing the sport and having the ability to command a huddle. That helped me rather a lot final yr.”
The Sooners additionally determine so as to add one other piece to the receiver group Saturday with the season debut of Javonnie Gibson. Gibson, a switch from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, suffered a damaged leg throughout spring follow.
“I am excited for him to get reacclimated into the sport of soccer, get reacclimated into this offense and actually discover his spot,” Arbuckle mentioned. “I believe he is a big-time playmaker, I actually do.”
Gibson is not the one Oklahoma participant making his season debut. Cornerback Eli Bowen is anticipated to return from damage as properly.
With Texas looming on the horizon subsequent week, it figures to be vital for the Sooners to get each gamers again within the swing of issues rapidly.
Oklahoma’s protection comes into the sport ranked second nationally in complete protection, permitting simply 207.5 yards per sport, and third in factors allowed (9.0).
One factor the Sooners have not finished defensively but is power turnovers. Oklahoma is the lone remaining FBS staff with out a takeaway.
Sooners coach Brent Venables mentioned that whereas creating turnovers was vital, the Sooners could not put an excessive amount of emphasis on it.
“I do not need to be that staff that is over there attempting to tear on the ball and no person’s tackling the ball-carrier, both,” Venables mentioned. “That is dangerous soccer. However on the similar time, man, we have to create turnovers.”
Kent State is on a three-game dropping streak, having been outscored 159-52 throughout that stretch.
The Golden Flashes haven’t overwhelmed an FBS opponent since 2022, dropping 25 consecutive video games to such opponents.
Kent State has been idle since its 66-10 loss to then-No. 7 Florida State on Sept. 20.
The sport will probably be a homecoming of kinds for Golden Flashes offensive coordinator Clay Patterson, an Oklahoma native.
“We have to match their bodily,” Patterson mentioned. “We all know that getting into. We will not beat ourselves. That is the large factor.”
Oklahoma gained the one prior assembly between the groups, beating Kent State 33-3 in 2022 in Norman.
–Discipline Stage Media
