Jaydn Ott came into Norman with sky-high expectations. After leading the Pac-12 in rushing in 2023 and arriving from Cal as the No. 1 running back in the Transfer Portal, he was supposed to be a game-changer for Oklahoma. But instead of lighting up the Big 12, his presence on the field was barely noticeable - and at times, it felt like he vanished from the Sooners’ offense entirely.
Six games. Just 21 carries.
A total of 68 yards. That’s all Ott managed to produce in a crimson jersey during the 2025 season.
For a player with his résumé, those numbers are jarring. Injuries certainly played a role, but even when healthy, Ott never found a rhythm in Oklahoma’s backfield.
Whether it was scheme fit, depth chart politics, or just bad luck, his senior season didn’t go the way anyone expected - especially not Ott.
But then came the Senior Bowl.
In Mobile, Alabama, Ott reminded everyone why he was once considered one of the most dynamic backs in college football. During the week of practices - a proving ground for NFL hopefuls - Ott turned heads. He ran with purpose, showed burst through the hole, and looked like the version of himself that dominated Pac-12 defenses not long ago.
And when the lights came on for the game itself, he didn’t disappoint. Ott made the most of his eight carries, racking up 42 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt, and punching in a five-yard touchdown.
It wasn’t just the stats - it was the way he ran. Confident, decisive, explosive.
The kind of performance that gets scouts to take a second look at the tape.
But maybe the most impressive thing Ott did all week didn’t come on the field. It came in front of a microphone.
Speaking candidly in an interview during Senior Bowl week, Ott didn’t shy away from the obvious - that the last two years of his college career didn’t go according to plan.
“My career's pretty much a big question mark,” he said. “First two seasons were pretty decent, and then the last two I just fell off the face of the earth.
I'm just excited to get out here and play ball, really. I haven't had the chance to get on the field much and show that I can compete with some of the best."
That kind of honesty doesn’t always come easy, especially for a player trying to rebuild his draft stock. But Ott’s willingness to own his struggles - rather than blame coaches, injuries, or circumstances - earned him respect.
From fans. From scouts.
From anyone paying attention.
Now, the question becomes: which version of Jaydn Ott will NFL teams get?
The one who looked like a future pro at Cal, slashing through defenses and carrying an offense? Or the one who struggled to find his footing at Oklahoma, hampered by injuries and inconsistency?
It’s a gamble, sure. But the Senior Bowl gave teams a glimpse of what Ott can still be - a tough, downhill runner with vision, quick feet, and something to prove. And for a league always on the hunt for value in the later rounds, that might be enough to get him a shot.
Ott’s college career may not have followed the script, but his story isn’t finished yet. In Mobile, he started writing a new chapter. One that could lead him to Sundays.