This addition Ott to make the Oklahoma Sooners a lot better.
As anticipated the last 24 hours, OU on Tuesday evening announced that California transfer running back Jaydn Ott, along with Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, signed with the Sooners.
The transfer portal window doesn't even officially open for the spring until Wednesday, but Ott, who entered the portal on Monday, was able to enter whenever he wanted to as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility left.
Welcome home, @THEJAYDNOTT and @JakeMaikkula! 🧬#OUDNA pic.twitter.com/3CaqwkD8Dj
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) April 15, 2025
California running back Jaydn Ott commits to Sooners
Although the transfer portal wasn't officially open yet, Ott was the No. 1 running back available and second overall player, according to 247Sports, behind only former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
An ankle injury hindered Ott this past season, but in 2023 as a junior he was First-Team All-Pac-12 after leading the conference with 1,305 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also dynamic on special teams as a return man, having more all-purpose yards than anyone else in FBS the last three seasons.
The #Sooners have signed their bell cow back in Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, one of the top RBs in the country. He had an injury-riddled campaign in 2024, but in 2023, he posted:
— OUInsider (@OUInsider) April 16, 2025
— 1,305 RUSH YDS
— 12 RUSH TD
— 5.3 YPC
— 196 REC YDS
— 2 REC TD pic.twitter.com/7lgEKjBEK3
Soon after Ott entered the transfer portal, multiple reports surfaced that the Sooners were frontrunners to land him as they were looking to bolster their running back room. That seemed even more likely earlier Tuesday when it was reported that running back Sam Franklin had intentions to enter the transfer portal, presumably making room on the roster for Ott.
New OU general manager Jim Nagy has been gushing over Ott since before he was even the Sooners' GM and still the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, so when Nagy had plans to add a running back, Ott was probably exactly who Nagy had in mind.
Love Jaydn Ott stayed at Cal and continued low-key tradition of NFL backs like Marshawn Lynch, Jahvid Best, Shane Vereen, J.J. Arrington, & Justin Forsett.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) July 6, 2024
It's just so damn pretty when @THEJAYDNOTT opens that stride. 👀
𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝘼𝘾𝘾!#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/BWtbLgHclW
Franklin might not be the only causality of Ott's addition. Franklin was already way down the depth chart as OU's projected No. 5 running back, so he was likely forced out.
The move pushes everyone else down a slot, too, so at least someone will probably head elsewhere for more carries. Taylor Tatum and Gavin Sawchuk are two viable options to hit the transfer portal soon because of that reason.
Regardless, Ott and Jovantae Barnes, if he stays, will be a potent one-two punch this season for the Sooners.