UPDATED AT 8:56 P.M.: WSU QB Mateer plans on entering NCAA transfer portal

Washington State quarterback John Mateer, who put up big numbers this fall while leading the Cougar football team to an 8-4 record and a Holiday Bowl berth, has entered the NCAA transfer portal and intends to leave Pullman.

WSU coach Jake Dickert confirmed Mateer’s decision to transfer in a news conference Monday morning.

Dickert said he spoke to Mateer Sunday night after the third-year sophomore from Little Elm, Texas spent the weekend with family and attended his sister’s graduation.

“He had to make a big decision for his life,” Dickert said. “And college football is in a different place than it was five years ago, 10 years ago. … John will be the most sought-after player in the portal. I think he's going to be the best player in the country next year. He informed us that he is in fact going to hit the portal. Biggest thing for our program is it proves, once again, our process is working. Our process is working. We're offering a bunch of kids that have no other power five offers. We're developing (them) into something really, really special.”

The blog CougFan.com reported that Mateer sent a message to his WSU teammates in a player-only chat.

"I want you guys to hear it from me, after talking with my family this weekend. We all decided it was best to take one of the opportunities that's been offered to me by another school. Which means I won't be able to play in the bowl game. I love y'all boys and I'm sorry I couldn't finish this thing out with y'all at the end of this month. Thank you for making me the man I am and helping me get to this point. Love you guys,” Mateer wrote according to CougFan.com.

The Cougars are set to play Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 in San Diego.

Mateer went 224-for-347 passing this season for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also led the Cougars in rushing with 826 yards and 15 TDs on 178 carries.

Mateer is one of six quarterbacks in NCAA history to throw at least 29 touchdowns and rush for another 15, joining a short list first populated by Tim Tebow in 2007 and since including Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts among others.

His 826 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in 2024 are the most by a QB in a single season in WSU history and his 44 total touchdowns led the nation.

Dickert said that the Cougar Collective, an association of WSU alumni and supporters connecting WSU payers with name, image and likeness opportunities, assembled a seven-figure offer for Mateer.

Mateer’s offer from an unnamed Southeastern Conference school is reportedly around $3 million.

Former WSU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback coach John Kuceyeski took the same positions at Oklahoma of the SEC this month. Mateer could follow them to Norman. The former Cougar quarterback has not posted any official statements on the matter as of Monday afternoon.

“Really proud of our fan base, and really the Collective and what they have done to put this all together — through the beer, through the coffee, through the fundraisers, through the match campaigns — we got to continue to navigate,” Dickert said. “Because I think in that realm, we're doing really, really well, and that thing has grown exponentially and I think it will continue to grow. So those will be pieces that this program will need going forward.”

Team captain Kyle Thornton said Mateer informed his teammates of his decision to transfer Sunday night.

Thornton said he hopes for the best for Mateer and the other Cougs who entered the transfer portal.

“The big thing is, like they're your brothers, so like, everyone's super close, and like, at the end of the day, you always want the best for your friend, the best for your buddy. I imagine it's similar to, like people in the workforce, like when you talk to your co-workers and they're talking about potentially doing other things,” Thornton said. “You obviously want them to stay with you and, like, be friends, but at the end of the day, everyone does have to do what's best for them.”

With Mateer transferring, Dickert said senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus will step into the starting role in preparation for the Holiday Bowl.

“I'm excited for this opportunity for Zevi,” Dickert said. He's done a really good job throughout the course of the season, being a great leader, being a great teammate, staying really positive being a backup.”

Who will call plays in the Holiday Bowl? What about next year?

Dickert said that wide receivers coach Nick Edwards will take over offensive play calling duties for the Holiday Bowl.

After Arbuckle’s departure to Oklahoma. Dickert had tapped WSU’s QB coach Kuceyeski as the team’s play caller for the Holiday Bowl before he followed Arbuckle to Norman last week.

WSU is close to hiring offensive and defensive coordinators following Arbuckle trading Pullman for Norman and the firing of former DC Jeff Schmedding.

“Feel really strongly about a big, broad pool of candidates that we have interviewed,” Dickert said. “Feel really close to hopefully making those announcements soon.”

In addition to two coordinators, Dickert will need to hire a new quarterbacks coach to replace Kuceyeski and a running backs coach to replace Mark Atuaia, who also served as associate head coach. Atuaia accepted a job at Utah last week.

Dickert has stepped into the DC role for the bowl game, donning the headset and the role he wore when he first arrived in Pullman in 2020.

He has also been coaching the linebackers, a job previously held by Schmedding.

The frantic scramble to hire new coaches, retain and recruit players from the portal and prepare for a bowl game on the heels of signing a class of high school recruits has made for a hectic December for Dickert and his remaining staff.

“I'm hiring two new coordinators, a running backs coach, calling plays for the defense coaching the linebackers, dealing with transfer portal visits and recruits. There is no time to shut it down, not to mention Jet (Dickert) won the Walla Walla basketball tournament this weekend. That was the best news I've had in a long time,” Dickert said. “You know, 10 years ago, this time of year, you would put your feet up at night, I'd be drinking a beer and celebrating bringing back one of the best teams in Washington State history next year, right? So it's just obviously unique and different, and December has changed quite a bit, and not just for us.”

Notes

Wide receiver Tre Shackelford and right tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe announced their decisions to transfer on Monday. Along with Mateer, the three are the 19th, 20th and 21st Cougs to enter the portal. Twelve of the 20 transfers were starters or played in at least eight games, including true freshman running back Wayshawn Parker (843 all-purpose yards, five TDs) and redshirt freshman cornerback Ethan O’Connor (32 tackles, 12 passes defensed, four interceptions).

Several WSU transfers have already announced their new homes. WSU punter Nick Haberer transferred to Vanderbilt and defensive tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh will play at TCU.

Following Jason Eck’s departure from Idaho to coach New Mexico, about 20 Vandals have hit the transfer portal. Wide receivers Jordan Dwyer of Pullayup, Wash., defensive tackle Dallas Afalava of Seattle, edge Malakai Williams and wide receiver Mark Hamper announced offers from WSU.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @Sam_C_Taylor.