Devy Digest: Jaydn Ott

Andy Pham looks at California running back Jadyn Ott and his potential ceiling.

California Golden Bears
Position: Running Back
Jaydon Ott
6’0” 210 lbs
Age: 21
Draft Eligible: 2025

Stats

Who is Jaydn Ott?

Ott was a four-star in the composites and attended Norco High in Norco, California. Ott’s background is fascinating. As a freshman in High School, Ott attended Norco High, made the varsity team, and rushed for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ott would commit to the University of Oregon and transfer to Bishop Gorman in Nevada. Ott averaged over 11 yards per carry as a Sophomore for the powerhouse program in Nevada and would de-commit from Oregon. Ott’s Junior year was wiped out due to COVID-19, and he transferred back to Norco High for his Senior season, where he rushed for 1,140 yards, 17 touchdowns, and added a receiving profile with 11 receptions. Ott held 17 offers but ultimately decided to stay close to home and commit to the California Golden Bears. 

Ott was named the starting running back in week three and would not give up the job as he rushed for 890 yards, added eight touchdowns, and added 46 receptions for 321 yards. Ott appeared to be the standout, but after the season, California went into the portal and grabbed two coveted running backs at the time, Byron Cardwell from Oregon, Justin Williams-Thomas from Tennessee, and then Isaiah Ifanse for depth to go along with the running backs they currently had. They also brought in a dual-threat quarterback who was expected to be the starter in Sam Jackson from TCU. With all those additions, it was feared that Ott would be a platoon back and wouldn’t take on a lead role. Cardwell would miss the entire season, Jackson was benched early, and Ott proved to be the best player on the team and one of the top running backs in college football. The Pac-12 is now disbanded, and California will enter the ACC and have multiple coast-to-coast road trips for the upcoming season.

Strengths

Ott is a runner with little wasted energy and a one-cut runner who prefers to get downfield fast. Ott gets to top-end speed within strides, has enough lateral agility to make a defender miss, and has enough power to absorb contact. Ott has good contact balance and does an excellent job of getting small through the first level, and the vision to plan moves once he gets to the second level. He will fight for additional yards and is a willing between-the-tackles runner. Ott is similar to Bucky Irving but is a much better between-the-tackles runner who doesn’t have a massive hole to run through as Irving did.

The offensive line was adequate, but they aren’t a line that helps Ott gain additional yards; when you watch Ott, he is creating yards on his own accord. Ott has improved his vision from his freshman season and anticipates holes opening up and will burst through. Once Ott gets to the second level, it’s a coin flip on if he gets caught and tackled. Ott has good, not great speed, not great creativity as a runner, and is a good, not great athlete.

Ott is an excellent pass catcher and someone who is a legitimate threat in the passing game and can run routes and be targeted down the field. Ott has improved with each passing year and has not yet reached his peak. Because of that, he can continue to improve and evolve as a runner who can take that step and become a top-end running back once it's said and done.

Improvements/Concerns