Sooner Football QB Coach John Kuceyeski details John Mateer's rigorous mechanical overhaul, emphasizing gradual gains and a new arm slot for 2026 success
NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma Sooners quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski offered a candid and detailed look into the ongoing work with starting quarterback John Mateer during a rare media session on Saturday amid spring camp in Norman.
The focus remains squarely on refining Mateer's throwing mechanics ahead of his senior season in 2026, building on efforts that began after a challenging 2025 campaign marked by injury and inconsistency.
Kuceyeski, often referred to as Coach Kuz, has been with Mateer since their days together at Washington State in 2023. He witnessed Mateer's rise from a backup role to leading the nation in total touchdowns in 2024 before the transfer to Oklahoma to reunite with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
In 2025, Mateer started strong, averaging over 300 passing yards in the first four games, but a thumb injury against Auburn disrupted his rhythm. Upon returning, he leaned more heavily into a side-arm delivery, which helped him manage discomfort but altered his natural release and consistency down the stretch.
"It's not the easiest," Kuceyeski said when addressing the mechanics overhaul. "Everybody wants you to go from here (lower) to here (higher), and that's not gonna happen, right? But, like, everything is gradual. And so if we can just start to get the arm angle to here (higher) more consistently, that's gonna be great, right?"
The coach emphasized that changing a throwing motion ingrained over two decades isn't an overnight process.
Mateer has been drilling the same habits since he was a child, making the shift to a more over-the-top release a matter of building awareness and repetition rather than a complete transformation.
Kuceyeski noted that certain situations, such as run-pass options (RPOs) or movement-based throws on the run, will still call for the side-arm slot at times. That element of his game won't, and shouldn't disappear entirely, as it provides versatility in Oklahoma's scheme under Arbuckle.
The improvements aren't limited to the arm slot.
Kuceyeski stressed that elite quarterback play starts from the ground up. The "biggest thing" has been Mateer's foundation: developing a consistent platform, refining drops into the pocket, and maintaining balance in his footwork.
These lower-body fundamentals create a stable base that allows the upper body, including the desired higher arm angle to function more efficiently. Mateer has dedicated significant time this offseason to these operational aspects of quarterbacking, training relentlessly between sessions to ingrain the changes.
During Oklahoma's Pro Day earlier this spring, Mateer throwing with a noticeably different motion, bringing the ball closer to his ear for a more traditional over-the-top path.
Mateer himself spoke earlier in the week about feeling confident in the adjustments, and footage from early spring practices has shown him working alongside backup quarterbacks like Bowe Bentley on these very drills. The visual differences include highlighting cleaner, higher releases that could translate to better velocity, accuracy, and ball placement in the SEC.
Kuceyeski's approach reflects a patient, holistic philosophy. While the arm angle garners the most attention from outsiders, the coach views footwork, eye discipline, and pocket presence as equally critical. Throwing from a "great platform" with consistent drops reduces stress on the arm and improves decision-making under pressure.
This comprehensive focus aims to elevate Mateer not just back to his pre-injury form but to the level of a top quarterback in college football. Prior to the injury, Mateer was the Heisman-favorite.
The timing of these refinements is ideal during spring camp. With no games on the line, Mateer and the coaching staff can experiment, film cut-ups of past mistakes, and methodically layer in the new habits.
Kuceyeski has seen both the peaks and valleys of Mateer's game, giving him unique insight into what the redshirt senior needs to succeed in his final college season.
The relationship built since January 2023 has fostered trust, allowing for honest conversations about mechanics without ego interfering.
For Mateer, the stakes are high. After a transitional 2025 that included early promise followed by inconsistency, expectations remain elevated for the Sooners in the SEC.
Mateer's leadership, combined with a revamped receiving corps and continued offensive creativity from Arbuckle, could be the difference in reclaiming momentum.
A healthier, more mechanically sound Mateer with a higher, more consistent release—should lead to fewer errant throws, better deep-ball accuracy, and improved efficiency on intermediate routes.
That said, Kuceyeski poured some realistic perspective on the hype surrounding a total "fix."
Dramatic before-and-after transformations rarely happen in quarterback development, especially for a player with Mateer's experience and natural tendencies.
The goal is incremental progress: more frequent over-the-top throws in structured settings, better weight transfer from the ground through the hips and torso, and heightened body awareness during live reps. Side-arm throws will persist where the scheme demands them, preserving Mateer's improvisational edge that made him so effective at Washington State.
As spring camp continues, the Sooners will have more opportunities to evaluate these changes in team periods. It has already been noted that there are positive signs in individual and group drills, with Mateer appearing more deliberate in his setup and release.
The work extends beyond the field too. Kuceyeski has even offered guidance on Mateer's media demeanor, underscoring the all-encompassing nature of quarterback development at this level.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Mateer's refined mechanics could unlock even greater potential in Oklahoma's offense. A consistent higher arm angle often correlates with tighter spirals, improved touch on touch passes, and reduced sail on deep outs.
When paired with a solid base, it minimizes compensation from the upper body, potentially extending his durability after dealing with the 2025 thumb issue.
Kuceyeski's comments serve as both encouragement and a dose of reality. The process is underway, the commitment from Mateer is evident, and gradual gains are already showing in practice.
But quarterback evolution is rarely linear.
There will be setbacks, reps where old habits creep in, and moments that test patience.
In the end, the Sooners' quarterback room, led by Mateer with emerging depth—appears focused and methodical. Kuceyeski's rare media availability highlighted not just the technical adjustments but the mindset required: awareness, repetition, and acceptance that perfection isn't instantaneous.
As Mateer enters his final season, the groundwork laid this spring could define his legacy in Norman and position Oklahoma for a stronger showing in 2026.
The realistic expectation should be for subtle improvements from sharper ball placement, fewer forced side-arms in clean pockets, and a quarterback who moves with greater confidence from the ground up.
With Kuceyeski's guidance and Mateer's dedication, those incremental steps could compound into significant results when the lights come on in the fall.