Washington State quarterback John Mateer has a decision to make about his future in Pullman. The redshirt sophomore can take less money to return as the incumbent starter for the Cougars in 2025 or take more money to transfer and play somewhere else.
According to former All-American Paul Sorenson, he is looking at no less than seven figures.
Vessi Created Waterproof Sneakers That Are Perfect For The Wet Months Ahead
Mateer is a former three-star recruit who received only two scholarship offers from FBS programs out of Little Elm High School in Texas. Washington State was one. New Mexico State was the other.
Cam Ward was the starting quarterback for the Cougars last season and quickly became one of the biggest names in college football. He received multiple offers worth $1 million or more after entering the transfer portal. Miami ultimately won the bidding war after deploying Rick Ross and rolling out the red carpet, which has proved to be a great decision through the first 10 games of his one-year rental.
It sounds like Mateer is currently in the exact same position as his predecessor. The redshirt sophomore will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season and multiple Power Five Six schools would like him to finish out his career with their program.
Is John Mateer next to leave?
According to Barry Bolton, Mateer is receiving approximately $400,000 in total NIL compensation at Washington State, including a free lease of a truck through Valley Buick GMC. Sorenson, who played safety for the Cougars in the 1980s, said on the Old Crimson Podcast that his alma mater’s signal-caller could make more than double to play elsewhere.
He already has a ($1 million offer). He does. From that perspective, and I don’t know what school it is, but I know there’s one sitting on the table and it’s out there right now.
— Paul Sorenson
Mateer completed 62.4% of his passes for 2,332 with 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions through his first 10 games as the starter. That doesn’t include his 630 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rusher. Washington State is ranked No. 18 in the country at 9-1 in large part because of its quarterback.
Cougs were COOKING tonight!
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 10, 2024
John Mateer adds 5️⃣ TDs & now has 3️⃣3️⃣ TOTAL, 2nd most in the country!
Wayshawn Parker had his best game yet with 1️⃣4️⃣9️⃣ yds & 2️⃣ scores.
Highlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/yjMt6fMyb9
Unfortunately, a good season can be catastrophic for smaller programs in the modern era of collegiate athletics. Their players get poached by NIL collectives with more money.
That is exactly what is happening with Mateer. He has played great so far, so he now has the opportunity to leave his current school and get paid more than double his current salary to play somewhere else.
The Cougars likely cannot match a $1 million offer for one single player. However, there is more to the equation than meets the eye.
The grass is not always greener […] if you go to a Michigan or a Texas A&M, an Oregon or a USC, they’re going to bring in three guys. And they’re going to pay them (all) at pretty much the same level.
— Paul Sorenson
Mateer has a lot to think about once this season ends. If he does choose to stay at Washington State, his status as QB1 is guaranteed. If he takes the bigger paycheck to leave, it could backfire. Look at how UCF lit money on fire with K.J. Jefferson, just as one example. The grass is indeed not always greener!