OU freshman quarterback Bowe Bentley, a former four-star recruit who graded as excessive as No. 7 within the 2026 class, expressed his eagerness to be a Sooner at their media day forward of spring camp.
Bentley, a Celina High School product, led this system to a 16-0 report and a Texas 4A Division I state title as a junior earlier than ending 14-1 his senior 12 months with a run to the state semifinals. As a senior at Celina, Bentley accomplished 202 of 265 passes for two,911 yards with 32 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He additionally rushed 104 occasions for 474 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bentley participated within the Navy All-American Bowl in January 2025, ending 4 of 12 passing for 46 yards and including 4 carries for 25 yards.
As he enters his first 12 months at OU, Bentley mentioned the preliminary jitters of being on campus have began to put on off.
“I think after about a month, you start to kind of pinch yourself and realize you’re here,” Bentley mentioned. “It’s been great.”
Bentley will function redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer’s backup subsequent season as he begins to be taught offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s offense. Bentley spoke extremely of Arbuckle and his strategies on and off the sector.
“He’s real,” Bentley mentioned. “That’s what I love about him. He gives real feedback. He’s always there. He’s (going to) get on to you, but he’s also (going to) be there for you whenever you’re down. I feel like that’s what makes a great player.”
Bentley credited Mateer for being at his facet for almost all of his recruitment, displaying him the ins and outs of every little thing on and off the sector.
“(John and I) got very close. He was with me on every visit,” Bentley mentioned. “(Mateer) walked me through everything. (He) gave me the real part because you go on a lot of visits, and some guys try to just show you the good stuff. But John gets real with you, and he shows you everything.”
Bentley was happy when he heard Mateer was coming again to OU for his senior 12 months.
“(Mateer) coming back was huge for me, being able to learn from him, the type of guy he is as a leader, as a football player, just being able to learn everything that he does,” Bentley mentioned. “Outside of the football field, just to see how he operates himself, I think it helps me learn in ways that I didn’t think I could have.”
With OU’s lengthy lineage of successful quarterbacks, excessive expectations come. Bentley was adamant that he’s specializing in his personal course of and confidence.
“(I’m) just taking one step by myself and always believing that I’m here for a reason and have a purpose to be here,” Bentley mentioned. “Finding a way I can better myself and practice certain things, knowing that at the end of the day, I just (got to) go out and do that.”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.