Take a look at Greg McElroy’s Top-10 running backs in college football heading into the 2025 season, and only one name stands out as not having finished in the top 100 in rushing last year.
Oklahoma running back Jadyn Ott.
McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN analyst, ranked Ott No. 10 on his list. The reason Ott isn’t higher? An injury-plagued 2024 season sapped him of his strength and skill. Ott ran for just 385 yards on 112 carries.
“If I were to ask the random person on the street, ‘Hey, what’d you make of Carson Beck’s performance in ’24 compared to 2023?’,” McElroy said. “I think most people would say, ‘Well, yeah, he kind of regressed from where he was in ’23 to where he was in ’24.’ Well, guess what? Jaydn Ott is kind of the Carson Beck of the running back spot,”
Two years ago, though, Ott was a star at Cal and was an All-American candidate heading into the fall. He will always carry the distinction of being the last player to lead the Pac-12 in rushing yards as he scampered for 1,315 with 12 touchdowns for the Bears.
Ott joined Oklahoma via the transfer portal in April. Because of his late arrival, OU fans haven’t seen him yet. Expect plenty in the fall, though, as he joins fellow transfer John Mateer at quarterback to provide the Sooners with the top-ranked transfer duo in the FBS this year.
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