Whatever happened for Jaydn Ott to not play much last season seems to be a thing of the past.
Even though he had less than two dozen carries in 2025, Ott is using it as a life lesson as he prepares for the next level.
Ott, a former Oklahoma football running back, participated Thursday in OU's Pro Day, where he had some eye-opening numbers to continue his impressive offseason in NFL testing.
This, of course, follows the disastrous 2025 season in Norman where he was the presumed starting running back, but rarely got on the field. Ott had 21 carries for 68 yards in seven games for the Sooners after being a highly-touted transfer from Cal, where he had an all-conference performance in 2023.
Ott, though, has found the better part in the unfortunate events from last season, hoping it will help him in the NFL.
"Yeah, it was difficult, man," Ott said. "Being a competitor, I want to be on the field, but I think I took a lot from it. A lot of learning lessons. It might be like that in the league one year where I have to be on the practice squad and still be able to contribute to the team and not come in the building and be in bad spirits.
"It's just a learning lesson. I learned a lot. I went through some trials and tribulations a lot of guys don't face until they get into the league, so I think it was good for me to experience it now."
In fall camp, Ott took a majority of drill reps as the first running back through. Ott, though, got injured and it went downhill, fast, from there.
Part of that is the emergence of freshman running back Tory Blaylock and the re-emergence of sophomore Xavier Robinson , who were the lead backs for OU down the stretch.
Ott said those combined resulted in the lack of playing time for a once-pressumed top running back in college football.
"There were just a couple of injuries, a little shoulder sprain in fall camp, kind of dealing with it into the season," Ott said. "Our other running backs were doing very well and so it didn't really make sense to take them off the field. I just came into practice every day and did my job. I was ready just in case my name got called."
Ott surely faced several challenges in his lone season at OU, but he said he stayed true to himself and is gracious for his time in Norman.
"Being a competitor, it was very difficult. But honestly, by the grace of God, just coming in every day, it took a lot, mentally," Ott said. "I had to start off my mornings with devotions, get myself into the right head space, then definitely end the night on it.
"But being around this team, and the guys on Team 131, it was a pleasure being around like-minded guys, who had the same passion as me. It was fun."
In February, Ott was one of the better performing running backs at the Senior Bowl, where he also added a touchdown in the game.
At OU's Pro Day, Ott ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, but his more-impressive numbers came from his jumps. He had a 40.5-inch vertical jump — good for second-best among combine running backs — and a 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump, which would've tied Kentucky running back Seth McGowan for the best at the combine.
Ott said he's hoping NFL scouts listen to how things went down last season and that his tape — in Norman and at Cal — is enough for a chance in the NFL.
I told 'em everything I just told you guys," Ott said. "One, it was a learning lesson, and the guys in front of me did a really good job, staying on the field, even battling through injuries. I just kind of fell behind. I was ready when my name was called, though, and stayed in it."
