Jaydn Ott’s Red River Rivalry moment exposed why he's a bust for Oklahoma

Now that Oklahoma fans are finally seeing more reps from prized running back transfer Jaydn Ott, it’s become clear why he hasn’t been on the field much. 

OU head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle recently praised Ott as if he turned a corner during the bye week and fixed whatever had been keeping him on the sideline. Ott was rewarded with a season-high carries against Kent State and entered in the first quarter against Texas on Saturday in the Red River Rivalry. 

One play showed why Jaydn Ott hasn’t been playing for Sooners

Ott rushed for only two yards on the only carry he got against Texas in the first quarter. Despite getting into the game so early, he played only four snaps, a drastic dip from the 29 he got the week before against Kent State. 

It’s likely, though, OU coaches saw the same effort that fans noticed during a play that Ott didn’t even touch the ball. Just that one play should silence the requests and questions about an increase of playing time for Ott, who transferred this offseason to OU from California as the top running back in the Transfer Portal. 

And it came in the most important game of every regular season. 

With Ott to the right of quarterback John Mateer, slot receiver Deion Burks was sent in motion from the left. Mateer handed the ball off to Burks, who had Ott out in front of him as a blocker. 

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. sniffed out the play and was waiting in the gap around the edge, but in theory, it was the man Ott should block to get Burks at least a chance at a few more yards. Instead, Ott stared down the defender and danced right by as Hill tackled Burks for just a one-yard gain while Ott watched after never touching a soul. 

Ott was a proven talent at California, but he hasn’t proven anything yet at Oklahoma and shouldn’t get another chance to. He led the Pac-12 in rushing in 2023 and had OU general manager Jim Nagy drooling over him while still the executive director at the Senior Bowl. An ankle injury hindered Ott in 2024, but he was still expected to be the Sooners’ RB1 and one of the most lethal offensive weapons. 

Instead, freshman Tory Blaylock has asserted himself as the leader of OU’s backfield while Ott has barely stepped on the field. Fans were dumbfounded at first why a top transfer addition wasn’t getting playing time.

“You wish he was a little further along in every way,” Venables said Week 3. “But you get in there, whatever opportunities you have, you get in there, you're ready. You've got good juice, energy, aggressiveness. You’re having an attack mindset. All those things, everything adds up, everything matters. 

Reading between the lines, as Venables was asked weekly about Ott’s playing time, it’s clear now what Venables was talking about without just coming out and saying it. 

Ott is a bust, and because of just one play, it’s no longer a mystery why.