Oklahoma Sooners reach deep into the FCS to bolster quarterback room out of the spring transfer portal window

Last season as a true freshman, Whitt Newbauer appeared in nine games and started six, passing for 1,395 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 57.1% of his passes. Newbauer also added 154 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Newbauer led Mercer to a Southern Conference championship and an appearance in the FCS playoffs last season, going 4-2 as a starter with his only losses coming to Alabama and North Dakota State. Newbauer led Mercer to a first-round playoff victory over Rhode Island before losing to the Bison.

Additionally, the 6'6, 225-pound Newbauer earned SoCon Offensive All-Freshman honors for his play last season.

The Sooners are set at the top two spots in their quarterback room with John Mateer and Michael Hawkins locking down the starter and backup spots, but true freshman Jett Niu is the only other quarterback behind them after Cole Gonzales transferred in the spring window to Pitt, but Niu isn't on scholarship. 

Newbauer doesn't bring a ton of experience, with just nine games to his belt, but he started against Alabama last season for the Bears and ended the season as the team's cemented starter and pushed his team to a conference championship. Not bad depth to have as the third-string quarterback option heading into 2025.  

Newbauer marks the third new addition to the Sooners' quarterback room after an abysmal season from both Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr. last season in the Sooners' worst offense of the last decade. It's clear that Brent Venables, Jim Nagy, and the rest of Oklahoma's staff are leaving no stone left unturned in their pursuit of building the best possible unit.