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Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle is already making a lasting impression on freshmen players

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 9:43 PM ET

Firing your offensive coordinator during the middle of the season is never a good thing. But, for the Oklahoma Sooners, it had to be done. They had the worst offense in the SEC, and in this conference, that just can't happen, even if you do have an elite defense like the one they had last season. So, they made the changes they needed to make.

The Oklahoma Sooners went and got one of the best young minds in the country on the offensive side of the ball in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and then got his quarterback, John Mateer, one of the best QBs last year. Arbuckle has already implemented his system, his recruiting, and everything else he thinks the program needs to be successful on offense again.

And, so far it seems to be working. He's already making an impression on the players.

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"Oh, it's been awesome," freshman QB Jett Niu said during an exclusive interview with A to Z Sports. "I mean, we've just really hit it off. I mean, I'm starting to learn the plays and starting to get everything down. I think he's a great offense coordinator. He's had really successful quarterbacks, Cam Ward, he's probably gonna go number one [In the 2025 NFL Draft]. I mean, And John's [Mateer] a great quarterback. I think he was the number one quarterback in the portal. He's just done a great job with him as well. And I'm hoping to be the next prospect. And, yeah, starting to get started along with him as well, after John's gone."

The system that Arbuckle is bringing to the SEC and to the Sooners is one that we saw at Washington State put up numbers, big-time numbers, and be versatile through the air and on the ground. Having Mateer with him will help, too. But one of the most important things is that he's connecting with these players. That's more important than you may think.

The players have to want to play for you. They have to buy into the culture and they have to buy into what you're selling. They won't do that for a player that they don't like. Arbuckle is making sure he gets the human element of it all down with a new group of players that he doesn't know.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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