Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle sees flashes of the way John Mateer interacted with Cam Ward at Washington State in the way Michael Hawkins Jr. has interacted with Mateer so far this season at Oklahoma.
Hawkins will make his first start of the season Saturday when the No. 5 Sooners (4-0) take on nonconference opponent Kent State (1-3) in Norman, Okla.
Mateer is out after sustaining a broken hand in the first quarter of a Sept. 20 win over then-No. 22 Auburn. While serving as Ward’s backup with the Cougars in 2023, Mateer learned the importance of having a well-prepared replacement ready to roll.
“I think that stuck with John,” said Arbuckle, the OC at Washington State from 2023-24. “I think John knows, ‘it’s not all about me, you know. I’ve got to make sure that I’m making everyone better.'”
Hawkins started four games last season as the Sooners bounced between him and Jackson Arnold at the spot.
That was an Oklahoma team that was depleted at wide receiver. This season, the Sooners have been much better out wide.
This Oklahoma team has four players averaging at least 50 receiving yards per game, led by tight end Jaren Kanak’s 76.8. Isaiah Sategna III, Deion Burks and Keontez Lewis have combined for five touchdown catches.
“I feel like it’s a great situation to be in right now,” Hawkins said. ” … Being in the fire last year helped me a lot just with my process and knowing the game and being able to command a huddle. That helped me a lot last year.”
The Sooners also figure to add another piece to the receiver group Saturday with the season debut of Javonnie Gibson. Gibson, a transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, suffered a broken leg during spring practice.
“I’m excited for him to get reacclimated into the game of football, get reacclimated into this offense and really find his spot,” Arbuckle said. “I think he’s a big-time playmaker, I really do.”
Gibson isn’t the only Oklahoma player making his season debut. Cornerback Eli Bowen is expected to return from injury as well.
With Texas looming on the horizon next week, it figures to be important for the Sooners to get both players back in the swing of things quickly.
Oklahoma’s defense comes into the game ranked second nationally in total defense, allowing just 207.5 yards per game, and third in points allowed (9.0).
One thing the Sooners haven’t done defensively yet is force turnovers. Oklahoma is the lone remaining FBS team without a takeaway.
Sooners coach Brent Venables said that while creating turnovers was important, the Sooners couldn’t put too much emphasis on it.
“I don’t want to be that team that’s over there trying to rip at the ball and nobody’s tackling the ball-carrier, either,” Venables said. “That’s bad football. But at the same time, man, we need to create turnovers.”
Kent State is on a three-game losing streak, having been outscored 159-52 during that stretch.
The Golden Flashes have not beaten an FBS opponent since 2022, dropping 25 consecutive games to such opponents.
Kent State has been idle since its 66-10 loss to then-No. 7 Florida State on Sept. 20.
The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Golden Flashes offensive coordinator Clay Patterson, an Oklahoma native.
“We’ve got to match their physically,” Patterson said. “We know that going in. We can’t beat ourselves. That’s the big thing.”
Oklahoma won the only prior meeting between the teams, beating Kent State 33-3 in 2022 in Norman.
