Explosive trio alert: Isaiah Sategna III, Trell Harris, and Parker Livingstone give John Mateer the tools for aerial dominance in Oklahoma's offense next season
As the calendar flips to late January 2026, with the Sooners fresh off a 10-3 campaign, a College Football Playoff appearance, and the recent announcement that quarterback John Mateer will return for another season, excitement is building in Norman.
Mateer, the Washington State transfer who arrived ahead of the 2025 season, navigated a challenging first year in crimson and cream—including a midseason hand injury that required surgery—yet still guided Oklahoma to a strong record with 2,885 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and added 431 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
Now healthy and more experienced, Mateer has the familiarity with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's system to take a major step forward. And crucially, he returns to a wide receiver group that's not just solid—it's sneaky good, bolstered by proven talent, key returnees, and high-profile additions that give him everything needed for a dynamic, downfield passing attack.
Leading the charge is slot receiver Isaiah Sategna III, the undisputed go-to threat who emerged as Oklahoma's top playmaker in 2025. After transferring from Arkansas, Sategna delivered a breakout season with 67 receptions for 965 yards and eight touchdowns, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors and proving his elite speed, route-running precision, and yards-after-catch ability.
His chemistry with Mateer was evident, as the duo connected for big plays in key moments, including explosive gains against Missouri and LSU that helped secure the playoff berth.
Sategna's decision to return for his senior season (announced in mid-January) is a massive boost—his reliability in the slot will continue to serve as the chain-mover and safety valve, allowing Mateer to operate with confidence in rhythm throws while opening up deeper shots for others.
On the outside, the Z spot gets a proven upgrade with Trell Harris, the former Virginia standout who committed to Oklahoma via the transfer portal earlier this month.
Harris, a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2025, led the Cavaliers with 59 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns, showcasing his blend of size (6'0", 200 lbs), contested-catch prowess, and explosive playmaking.
His ability to win on the boundary and create after the catch—evident in 100-yard-plus games against Stanford and Duke—makes him more than capable of handling SEC competition. Harris's arrival addresses a need for boundary reliability, forcing defenses to respect the outside and preventing them from crowding Sategna.
At the X position, Parker Livingstone adds intriguing upside after transferring from Texas. The former Longhorn (and Arch Manning's college roommate) flashed star potential as a redshirt freshman in 2025, hauling in 29 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns, including multiple 100-yard outings and highlight-reel scores.
At 6'4" with length and leaping ability, Livingstone brings the vertical threat and red-zone presence Oklahoma craved, stretching the field and winning jump balls.
His commitment gives the Sooners a balanced trio: speed and quickness in the slot, physicality on one boundary, and height on the other. This WR corps doesn't operate in a vacuum—the supporting cast amplifies their impact.
The offensive line returns significant experience, promising improved pass protection that should give Mateer cleaner pockets than he often had in 2025. Tight end Hayden Hansen comes in from Florida as a reliable seam option and blocker, while running backs Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock offer a versatile ground game that keeps defenses honest and sets up play-action bombs where Mateer thrives.
In 12-personnel packages, linebackers will be pulled inside, creating favorable one-on-one matchups for the receivers. The pieces are in place: a battle-tested quarterback in his second year with the program, a healthy arm, and a talented, diverse receiving group ready to exploit mismatches.
There's no excuse for Arbuckle and Mateer not to unleash an aggressive, downfield passing game that pushes defenses vertically. With Sategna's explosiveness, Harris' reliability, and Livingstone's big-play potential, Oklahoma's sneaky good WR corps could propel the Sooners to new heights in 2026—potentially turning a playoff team into a national contender.