When the Sooners unexpectedly lost quarterback Cole Gonzales during the hectic spring transfer portal period, they were temporarily down to just three quarterbacks on the roster. Beyond expected starter John Mateer and top backup Michael Hawkins, only true freshman Jett Niu was left.
To address the lack of depth—just as they had done by bringing in Gonzales during the winter—Ben Arbuckle and the Oklahoma coaching staff once again looked to the FCS level. After an official visit to Norman on Friday, Mercer transfer committed to Oklahoma. He joins the team with three years of eligibility remaining.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 225 pounds, Newbauer hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. Though he arrived at Mercer as an unranked and largely overlooked member of the 2024 recruiting class, he quickly earned a starting role as a true freshman and performed impressively.
Newbauer appeared in nine games for Mercer during the 2024 season, passing for 1,398 yards and 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also ran for two touchdowns and helped guide Mercer to a Southern Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs.
At Oklahoma, Newbauer is expected to compete with Niu for the third-string quarterback spot initially and is likely to redshirt in 2025. However, if he stays with the Sooners long-term, there’s potential for him to challenge for the starting job down the road. Having a third-string quarterback with actual starting experience is rare in Power 4 programs, which is why Oklahoma prioritized bringing Newbauer in following Gonzales’ departure.
He becomes the sixth player added by Oklahoma during the spring transfer window, joining running back Jaydn Ott, offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, defensive lineman Ricky Lolohea, kicker Tate Sandell, and wide receiver Jer’Michael Carter.
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