Fresh off an elite season in California, Jaydn Ott committed to Oklahoma in the NCAA transfer portal, giving them a top running back as they prepare for their second year of SEC play.
And while 2024 was a tough one for the Sooners, who finished below .500 for just the second time since 1999, there is optimism for a team bringing in a heap of talent —- including Washington State quarterback John Mateer.
Greg McElroy is Hyped for Jaydn Ott in Oklahoma
Ott snuck in as the final running back on ESPN’s Greg McElroy’s top 10 college football running backs list, after a season McElroy called disappointing.
“If I were to ask the random person on the street, ‘Hey, what’d you make of Carson Beck’s performance in ’24 compared to 2023?’ I think most people would say, ‘Well, yeah, he kind of regressed from where he was in ’23 to where he was in ’24.’ Well, guess what? Jaydn Ott is kind of the Carson Beck of the running back spot,” McElroy said.
“Now, part of that was the injuries. He just wasn’t at any point last year very healthy, and as a result, the stats were down overall. The overall usage was down an awful lot. But if you look at what Jaydn Ott was in 2023 or prior to 2023, the guy was one of the top backs in the country.”
Ott suffered an ankle injury in California’s season-opener last year, finishing the year with 116 carries for just 385 yards and four touchdowns, adding 24 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are nowhere near his lofty 2023, where he rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But McElroy believes in Ott at Oklahoma.
“He’s in a really good spot, a really good spot for how he fits and how he’s going to be able to compliment [OU quarterback] John Mateer, how [OU offensive coordinator] Ben Arbuckle is going to be able to figure out ways to get Ott involved,” McElroy said. “A big part of this is staying healthy, and he’s got to be at 100%. But if he is at 100%, Jaydn Ott can very easily climb this list.”
KEEP READING: Jaydn Ott Destined for RB1 at OU, Experts Fear Instant Backfield Shakeup
“While I have him currently at No. 10, partly because of the performance and the productivity last year, I feel like I’m getting Jaydn Ott on sale a little bit. I think this is a guy that has top-five potential, top-three potential at the running back spot.”
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