The Oklahoma Sooners suffered a blow on Tuesday when it was announced that starting quarterback John Mateer would need surgery for an injured thumb. The injury occurred in the win over Auburn and is expected to keep Mateer out for at least three to four weeks.
It’s next man up in Norman as the Oklahoma Sooners turn to a quarterback with some starting experience, though it comes with mixed results.
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Here’s a look at the quarterback depth chart with Mateer out for the next several weeks.
Starting QB: Michael Hawkins, Jr.
Michael Hawkins Jr. gets thrust into the starting quarterback position for the second straight season, but for a much different reason. Hawkins will be the starter against Kent State and is likely to start against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown if Mateer’s unavailable.
He’s played just 19 snaps this season and was 1 for 3 against Temple for five yards. He also ran six times for 25 yards, including a big run on third and long for a conversion late in Oklahoma’s win over the Owls. Back in 2024, Hawkins appeared in seven games and made four starts for the Sooners. He took over against Tennessee and then started games against Auburn, Texas, and South Carolina during the regular season and started in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.
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By all accounts, he’s looked really good in practices and is someone the coaching staff has a lot of belief in.
He’s a great athlete and has the arm to push the ball down the field. If he’s improved, Oklahoma should still have an offense more than capable of helping the Sooners win football games.
Backup QB: Whitt Newbauer
Whitt Newbauer came to Oklahoma this offseason from Mercer. He was a starter last year and made some big throws against the Alabama Crimson Tide in nonconference play.
For Mercer, Newbauer threw for just over 1,398 yards, 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also ran for a pair of scores and had rushes of 37 and 28 yards during the season.
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He’s a tough quarterback with a good arm and plus accuracy and brings some collegiate experience to the table as Oklahoma’s now-backup quarterback.
3rd Quarterback: Jett Niu
Jett Niu was originally committed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys prior to the 2025 early signing period and was a late flip to Oklahoma after the Sooners hired Ben Arbuckle. He was a three-star prospect out of Utah.
Niu is an accurate passer who gets the ball out quickly. He works well in a spread air-raid system.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback depth chart with John Mateer out
