Running Back Jaydn Ott breaks silence on his disappointing season with Sooners' Football, revealing injury struggles and his resilient mindset as his gears up for the NFL Draft
NORMAN, Okla. - Running back Jaydn Ott entered the 2025 season at Oklahoma with sky-high expectations. After starring at California, where he rushed for over 1,300 yards and led the Pac-12 in 2023, the former four-star recruit transferred to Norman as a highly touted addition to Brent Venables' offense. He arrived with significant NIL compensation, making him one of the Sooners' biggest investments in recent memory.
Yet his lone season in crimson and cream proved bitterly disappointing: just 21 carries for 68 yards across seven games, no touchdowns, and limited opportunities despite early hype as a potential game-changer.
On Oklahoma's Pro Day in March 2026, Ott addressed the struggles head-on, clearing the air while projecting confidence for his NFL future. Despite the sparse production that left fans and analysts labeling him one of OU's most notable recent letdowns, his standout performances in the pre-draft process — particularly at the 2026 Senior Bowl — have reignited interest.
Scouts praised his elusiveness, vision, and burst during Mobile practices, where he turned heads with 42 yards on eight carries and a touchdown in the game itself. That film, combined with his earlier tape from Cal, is what teams are now evaluating.
"Yeah it was difficult," Ott said during Oklahoma's Pro Day. "Being a competitor, I want to be on the field, but I think I took a lot from it. A lot of learning lessons."He pointed to an injury that derailed his momentum from the start. "A little shoulder sprain in fall camp," Ott explained.
"Kind of was dealing with it into the season. Our other running backs were doing very well and so it didn’t really make sense to take them off the field."
The depth chart had options, and Ott found himself buried behind his teammates. What could have been a featured role turned into a frustrating sideline watch. But rather than dwell on the what-ifs, Ott framed the experience as valuable preparation."I went through some trials and tribulations a lot of guys don’t face until they get into the league, so I think it was good for me to experience it now," he continued.
"That way when I get to the league, if it were to happen again, something like this, something similar, I’d be more than prepared to handle it."
This mindset shift stands out. Many prospects hit adversity only after entering the NFL, where opportunities vanish quickly. Ott's early taste of it, limited snaps, injury recovery, and competition, may prove a hidden blessing.
He emphasized relying on older film to showcase his true ability."Granted the film was from a couple of years ago," Ott noted, "I still think it shows what I was able to do, what I am able to do. A little bit of the Senior Bowl as well. Especially those practices. I’m not too worried. Just let God handle it."
His faith and poise resonated during Pro Day workouts, where he ran well and impressed observers. NFL draft analysts now view him as a potential Day 3 pick with upside, possibly in the fifth round or later, thanks to that Senior Bowl boost.
His profile features an explosive burst, pass-catching skills, and big-play vision from Cal, which remains intriguing, even if the 2025 tape raises questions.
Not all the blame lands squarely on Ott, though. Many have long questioned the track record of former Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray, who oversaw the position during Ott's tenure before reportedly heading to the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Murray's development of backs drew criticism for inconsistency, as well as a pointed to a pattern of underutilization or stalled growth at the position. In Ott's case, the combination of injury, depth, and coaching decisions may have prevented the explosive runner from ever finding rhythm.
Ott's arrival via the transfer portal was supposed to upgrade OU's backfield. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about high NIL expectations colliding with on-field reality.
Yet his Pro Day comments reveal maturity. He didn't make excuses; he owned the difficulty while highlighting growth. That resilience could appeal to NFL teams seeking backs who handle adversity.
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, Ott's story could be one of redemption in progress. The "disappointment" tag from his Oklahoma year lingers for Sooners faithful, especially given the investment. But his pre-draft surge in Senior Bowl practices that turned heads, Pro Day confirmation of health and burst, could suggest the Cal version of Ott is still there.
He's not worried about the narrative. He's focused on preparation, lessons learned, and letting his play speak for itself.
Ott's early "trials and tribulations" might just be the edge he needs. Teams drafting him late could be getting a motivated, battle-tested playmaker ready to prove doubters wrong.