Jaydn Ott, a former running back for Cal, has officially signed with the Oklahoma Sooners less than a day after declaring his entry into the transfer portal. This move, announced on Tuesday, sees Ott, who ranked as the third-best running back in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings, joining blue-chip quarterback John Mateer in a bid to revive the struggling Oklahoma offense under coach Brent Venables’ tenure.

Ott’s surprise decision to enter the portal immediately placed him among the top available players at his position, complementing other stars like Justice Haynes from Alabama to Michigan and Rahsul Faison from Utah State to South Carolina. Last season, Oklahoma managed to finish 11th in the SEC for rushing yards per game at 155.2.

Welcome home, Jaydn Ott and Jake Maikkula! 🧬 #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/3CaqwkD8Dj — Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) April 15, 2025

In the previous season, Ott featured prominently in 10 games after an ankle injury hampered his performance, but he still concluded the 2024 season with 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns. During his breakout year in 2023, he averaged an impressive 109.5 yards per game, ranking ninth nationally with a total of 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Transfer portal live updates: Follow along with all the entries and commitments throughout the spring window. Ott is the second notable departure from Cal this week, joining tight end Jack Endries as his team navigates roster changes heading into the upcoming season.