Auburn football fans are flooding X with calls to land Wazzu QB John Mateer in transfer portal

Following Auburn football's predictable, but soul-crushing, Iron Bowl loss to Alabama on November 30, many Tiger fans began daydreaming about the team turning things around next season -- and a popular name that kept popping up was Wazzu QB John Mateer.

The Little Elm, Texas product had 3,139 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions; adding 826 yards and 15 touchdowns with his feet. The appeal to Mateer is evident on the surface.

But it goes beyond the stats. Mateer has the makings of a fan-favorite anywhere, but particularly in Auburn. His interviews alone would make him a hero on the Plains.

"I'll do whatever it takes to win," Mateer told CBS Sports. "I can do some pretty cool things. I'll run whenever I need to, and I'll play harder than anybody else and do whatever it takes to score points."

Those are creed qualities. I mean, just look at the way CBS Sports' Chris Hummer describes him.

"Mateer knows what it feels like to be overlooked. It's why those closest to him believe he's a perfect fit to lead a school and a fan base with, frankly, a bit of f*** you energy to it given what's happened over the past year," Hummer wrote.

Is that type of energy completely creed-compliant? No. Well, no anywhere but on the football field.

Mateer helped Wazzu become an overachiever in 2024 but could be due for bigger and better in 2025. If Hugh Freeze is open to embracing the transfer portal in a way he wasn't during last year's cycle, Mateer could easily be the most popular man in East Central Alabama before long.