It’s no secret why Cal running back Jaydn Ott is receiving national praise for his football talent. He is, by definition, a superstar who is regarded as one of the top running backs in college. His first few seasons for the Golden Bears have been great. And entering 2024, Ott has the chance to solidify himself as one of the greatest Cal players ever. It’s a big season for Ott as he looks to make his final year in college one to remember. I break down the young superstar in this player spotlight below.
Cal Football: Jaydn Ott – Player Spotlight
Before he was torching defenses at Cal, Jaydn Ott played football for Norco and Bishop Gorman High School. He had quite an impressive early career where he earned the MaxPreps Big XIII League Back of the Year award as a senior.
Multiple schools were interested in the four-star recruit after his impressive senior season at Norco. Ott received offers from Georgia, Wisconsin, Oregon, USC, Nebraska, and many others. The star running back committed to Oregon and then de-committed right before signing with Cal. Ott flip-flopped on his commitment to Cal but re-signed back with the university months after his decommitment.
The 2024 season will be Ott’s final year for the Golden Bears. Cal fans are blessed to have witnessed a truly special talent on the field. The 21-year old can do it all on the football field, and displays that every opportunity he gets. After all, his first two seasons here at Berkeley have been outstanding.
During his freshman season, Ott was in a time share at the position and still managed to rack up 897 yards on just 170 carries. Last season as a sophomore, Ott came into his own by rushing for 1,305 yards on 245 carries. His numbers already stack up well against the elite Cal running backs before him, and he still has one more season to go. In fact, he has the second most rushing yards for a Cal player through their first 24 games. It’s not easy to live up to the expectations, but for now, Ott is rushing through them.
One Last Dance
Most fans have high expectations for the young running back this fall. Unfortunately, the school hasn’t had a great football record during his tenure. Otherwise, his name would be talked about more than it already has.
Ott is only a junior, he’s alluded to this season being his final year. In a recent interview Ott was asked if this was his last season, to which he responded, “Yes, this will be.”
Playing running back can be brutal and with his talent, Ott is ready for the NFL. It will be interesting to see how Cal can maximize his talent on the field this season while trying to keep him fresh. He’s one of the best players on the team and the biggest key to the offense. Staying healthy will be key for Ott in his final season as he looks to rise up draft boards while dominating this year.
If this is the end, everything will be okay
When thinking of past Cal teams, one of the first things that comes to mind is the running back position. For years the Golden Bears had good running backs coming through the program. And now, Ott has once again brought life to the program.
Ott’s talents have been getting noticed from not just local media, but also the national media. It’s all well deserved as he tries to stake his claim as one of the best Cal running backs in the school’s history.
No Bears fan wants his tenure to come to a close, but like they say, all good things come to an end. It’s been a real pleasure watching him so far and no doubt in my mind will he be one of college football’s best running backs this season.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.