Charlie Campbell
Oklahoma 10, Michigan 17
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Entering the 2026 season, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has the potential to be a feast-or-famine prospect. His 2024 tape at Washington State and early 25 tape with the Sooners looked like a future first-rounder. After a broken thumb, Mateer struggled and produced some bad tape in 25. Mateer has everything riding on this season.
In the first quarter, Mateer was not getting into a groove as a passer, but he had a nice run for 13 to get Oklahoma a first down and near midfield. The drive stalled with Mateer throwing too far in front of a crossing receiver for the second consecutive drive. While Mateer was frustrated with the misses, the windows were extremely tight, and his receivers were not getting open. Mateer had some success just before half on some designed runs, and he had a nice play where he dodged a sack and then threw a short completion with defenders wrapping up his legs.
In the third quarter, Mateer threw a frozen rope on a post to tight end Rocky Beers for a gain of about 25 yards. Mateer made a good read, stepped in the pocket, and delivered a strike. Michigan had been winning with man coverage and not letting receivers get open, but they went to zone, and Mateer made them pay with a 17-yard completion to get across midfield. To cap the drive, Mateer found a receiver running wide open down the seam, and Mateer threw a perfect pass for a 22-yard touchdown. Mateer kept moving the ball with a short pass to Beers to lead him on the run and took off for a 43-yard gain. That led to a field goal to tie the game at 10 entering the fourth quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter on a third-and-long deep in his own territory, Mateer threw a terrible pass to a blanketed receiver. The ball went right to the cornerback, who easily picked it off and had a return inside the five-yard line. That turnover was game-breaking for Mateer and Oklahoma. Mateer had one more chance, with just over two minutes left. Just past midfield on a fourth-and-7, Beer was open running a crossing route for a first down, but Mateer missed high for an incompletion. Mateer’s feet were out of whack on the throw, and that contributed to the inaccuracy. It was the fifth pass in the game where Mateer missed high. Mateer had one more chance staring back in his own territory; he started the drive with a 22-yard run, had an inaccurate pass, a good pass that fell incomplete, and then took a bad sack on the final play of the game to clinch the win for Michigan. Mateer finished completing 17-of-33 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and 45 yards on the ground.
For the NFL, Mateer needs to show more anticipation, accuracy, and consistency. His anticipation is lacking, and his accuracy can be streaky, with some perfect throws followed up with misses. It is too early in the season and 2027 draft process to give Mateer a true round estimate, but overall he needs to play a lot better, and this tape is going to hurt his draft grade.
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Michigan cornerback Zeke Berry is an undersized corner, but he is a super gritty cornerback. Berry is similar to former Wolverine Mike Sainristil or Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Berry was superb against Oklahoma. The Wolverines often matched him up against Oklahoma speedster receiver Isaiah Sategna, and Berry got the better of the matchup.
Early in the first quarter, Berry runs with Sategna on a crosser to force a third-down incompletion. On special teams, Berry made a good play downing the punt at the one-yard line and blocking it from rolling into the end zone. Early in the third quarter, Oklahoma tried to do a screen shovel pass, and Berry flew to the receiver to deliver a bone-rattling hit. The violence and power for a smaller corner like Berry was impressive. Early in the fourth quarter, Berry showed his special teams prowess again with an excellent open-field tackle on Sategna on a punt return. This was an excellent tape from Berry that is going to lead to some pro evaluators getting very excited about him.
For the NFL, Berry is a gritty cover corner who is physical, competitive, and aggressive. Berry shows versatility in coverage, being able to line up at the line of scrimmage, cover in off-man, or play zone. He is a twitchy athlete with quick reactions and an ability to explode out of breaks. Berry is effective in maintaining coverage, showing the ability to run the route and prevent separation. Berry lined up outside and inside with Michigan, but for the NFL, he could fit best as a slot corner. Given his size, Berry might be more of a second-round pick than a first-rounder.
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Oklahoma’s wide receivers really struggled to get open against the Wolverines secondary, but Beers was superb. He created separation from coverage and was excellent running with the ball after the catch. Beers got his team going with a 25-yard gain on a touchdown drive, and his great run after a short catch for a 43-yard gain was the key play to tying the game. Beers has good size, speed, and athleticism. Beers needs to improve as a blocker, but he showed serious receiving ability with 94 yards on six catches. This tape will help his draft grade significantly, and he earned a stock-up for his performance in Ann Arbor.
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Michigan stole a dangerous edge rusher from Utah in the transfer portal with John Henry Daley. Daley was superb for the Utes in 2025, and he looks just as special with the Wolverines. On a third down early in the first quarter, Daley had a big play to get his defense off the field with a spin move to the inside to get past the left tackle, and then he powered through the left guard to get a sack of Mateer. It was a phenomenal rush that showed Daley’s pass rush skill set with speed, athleticism, and moves. Shortly later, Daley got in the backfield and batted down a pass. Late in the second quarter, Daley got another sack as he bullrushed through the left tackle to take down Mateer as he stepped up in the pocket. In the second half, Daley had a nice tackle in run support.
As a pass rusher, Daley has a nice repertoire of moves and the physical talent to beat edge protectors. Daley is quick off the ball with a nice burst and has the quickness to charge upfield. He has a good spin move to move back to the inside, uses a rip move to get around the corner, and has active hands to chop and dip under blockers. Daley plays with good leverage to get underneath tackles to keep them from latching onto his chest. With his quickness, agility, and moves, Daley has a nice skill set as a pass rusher to go long with deploying a nice rush plan, setting up his different moves. Daley was not impressive as a run defender for the Utes in 2025, but he looked improved as a run defender against the Sooners. If Daley proves to be a well-rounded defender, he could be a first-round pick next April.
