Washington State star quarterback John Mateer has entered the switch portal, mentioned WSU soccer coach Jake Dickert on Monday.
Dickert mentioned he met with Mateer on Sunday night time after the QB frolicked together with his household final weekend in Texas to debate his future.
“College football is in a different place than it was five years ago, 10 years ago, or however we remember it,” Dickert mentioned. “John would be the most sought-after participant within the portal and I feel he’s going to be the perfect participant within the nation.
“… I’m obviously disappointed. It’s a tough result. I’m really thankful to Cougs everywhere that poured everything it took to try to keep him here, but at the end of the day he wanted to play on a bigger stage.”
Dickert mentioned the Cougar boosters supplied Mateer an NIL bundle that was “seven figures.”
“It was strong and it was everything that I could have imagined and more,” Dickert mentioned of WSU’s NIL bundle. “I think our team of people were really invested in that. So that was a big-time deal by our people.”
In the long run, it was not sufficient.
Mateer, who won’t play within the Vacation Bowl towards Syracuse on Dec. 27, handed for 3,139 yards and threw 29 landing passes this season. He additionally rushed for 826 yards and 15 landing and leads the nation in complete touchdowns (44).
In the course of the season, Mateer reportedly had a $1 million NIL provide from one other college.
Hypothesis turned to Oklahoma when it was introduced two weeks in the past that WSU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was leaving for a similar job with the Sooners. WSU quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski can also be headed to Oklahoma, the place he’ll work as a senior offensive assistant and as assistant QB coach.
Coming into the weekend, the Cougars had misplaced 18 gamers to the switch portal, together with seven starters: operating again Wayshawn Parker; safeties Adrian Wilson and Jackson Lataimua; defensive deal with Ansel Din-Mbuh; punter Nick Haberer; and cornerback Ethan O’Connor.
Fifteen entered the switch portal on Dec. 9, the primary day it opened.
“It’s walk-ons that are unsure of their position,” Dickert instructed reporters that day. “It’s guys in our roster that need opportunities to go play. There’s also guys that have played for us that have been offered large sums of money.”
“Cougars need to step up so that we can make an offer that’s significant enough to make them pause,” mentioned Tim Brandle, a founding member of the Cougar Collective. “Can we step up, monetarily, to truly make it a hard decision for them? That is our goal.”
They could have paused, however many hit the switch portal anyway.
Mateer, a third-year sophomore, performed in all 12 video games final season behind starter Cam Ward, and was used largely as a runner.
Ward left for Miami and reportedly had NIL offers price greater than $2 million, opening the beginning job.
Mateer competed in fall camp with Zevi Eckhaus, a senior switch from FCS Bryant, for the beginning job. Mateer led the Cougars to an 8-1 begin earlier than a three-game dropping streak to finish the season.
Eckhaus threw for 10,287 yards and 75 touchdowns in three seasons for Bryant and is anticipated to start out for WSU for the primary time towards Syracuse.
“I’m excited for this opportunity for Zevi,” Dickert mentioned. “He’s done a really good job through the course of the season. He’s been a great leader and a great teammate, staying really positive being a backup.”
Dickert mentioned the success of Mateer helps “proves again that our process is working.”
“We’re offering (scholarships) to a bunch of kids that have no other Power Five offers and we’re developing them into something really, really special,” Dickert mentioned. “… There is $800 million of new Power Four rev-share money that has infiltrated into the system right now and backups at that level are getting $50,000 to $100,000. College football is in a little bit of a weird place right now and I’m proud that as Cougs we will continue to adapt.”
Cougs lose two extra
On prime of Mateer, the Cougs misplaced two extra gamers to the portal Monday.
Offensive line Fa’alili Fa’amoe is leaving, based on report by CBS Sports activities/ 247Sports.com. He began seven of 9 video games this season after getting back from a knee damage. He gave up solely two sacks on 12 pressures.
Receiver Tre Shackelford introduced he was leaving. He began two video games this season and had 10 catches for 144 yards and a landing.