Oklahoma Quarterback John Mateer's Alleged Venmo Transactions Raise Concerns About Sports Betting
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer allegedly used Venmo to make payments related to "sports gambling" to a person named Richard Roaten in 2022. The transactions were later removed from the account. Richard Roaten is a former Washington State offensive lineman who now plays for Abilene Christian. Mateer, who is expected to be the starting quarterback for Oklahoma, could face consequences if the transactions indeed relate to sports betting.
John Mateer joined Washington State as a three-star recruit in the Class of 2022 and redshirted his first season. He saw limited action in 2023, attempting 17 passes. However, he had a breakout year in 2024, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for over 800 yards and 15 touchdowns. Despite his success, Mateer transferred to Oklahoma during the offseason.
An account under the name 'John Mateer' on Venmo, featuring a profile picture of the quarterback in his Washington State jersey, was involved in the suspicious transactions with Richard Roaten. Roaten, who also used his redshirt in 2022, did not see much playing time. The nature of the transactions is unclear, but they were previously visible on the account before being removed.
NCAA regulations prohibit college athletes from engaging in sports betting. If the Venmo account does belong to John Mateer, he may face repercussions for violating these rules. The transactions have since been deleted, and the account currently shows no transaction history. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold for the Oklahoma quarterback.