{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Jaydn Ott |image= |caption= |birth_date={{birth date and age|2002|12|16}} |birth_place=Chino, California, U.S. |heightft=5 |heightin=11 |weight_lb=198 |team=Kansas City Chiefs |position=Running back |number=42 |highschool=Norco High School<br>(Norco, California) |college=California (2022–2024)<br>Oklahoma (2025) |espn=4685489 |undraftedyear=2026 |pastteams= *Kansas City Chiefs ({{nfly|2026}}–present) |status=Active |highlights= * First-team All-Pac-12 (2023) }}
'''Jaydn Ott''' (born December 16, 2002) is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and Oklahoma Sooners.
==Early life== Ott grew up in Norco, California and initially attended Norco High School. He committed to play college football at Oregon as a freshman in high school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/08/2022-recruiting-rankings-oregon-ducks-commit-jaydn-ott-named-nations-no-3-rb.html|title=2022 recruiting rankings: Oregon Ducks commit Jaydn Ott named nation's No. 3 RB|first=Andrew|last=Nemec|work=The Oregonian|date=August 9, 2019|access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref> After his freshman year Ott moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and transferred to Bishop Gorman High School.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sondheimer |first=Eric |date=July 9, 2019 |title=Running back Jaydn Ott leaves Norco |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vti-jaydn-ott-20190709-story.html |access-date=September 26, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> As a sophomore, Ott rushed for 11.7 yards per carry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/jaydn-ott-may-make-an-impact|title=Cal RB Jaydn Ott Might Make an Immediate Impact as a Freshman|first=Jake|last=Curtis|website=SI.com|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref> He returned to Norco before the start of his senior year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/09/03/jaydn-ott-leads-norco-football-over-rancho-cucamonga|title=Jaydn Ott leads Norco football over Rancho Cucamonga|work=Inland Valley Daily Bulletin|date=September 3, 2021|access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref> Ott rushed for 1,140 yards and 17 touchdowns on 114 carries as a senior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uga.rivals.com/news/oregon-state-hosts-four-star-2022-rb-jaydn-ott|title=Oregon State Hosts Four-Star 2022 RB Jaydn Ott|first=Brenden|last=Slaughter|website=Rivals.com|date=December 7, 2021|access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref> Ott decommitted from Oregon during his sophomore year and later committed to play at California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/oregon/Article/Oregon-Ducks-Football-Recruiting-Jaydn-Ott-decommittment--148249453/|title=2022 running back Jaydn Ott decommits from Oregon|first=Kevin|last=Wade|website=247Sports.com|date=June 16, 2020|access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/cal-lands-4-star-rb|title=Cal Football: Bears Add 4-Star Running Back Jaydn Ott to the Class of 2022|first=Jeff|last=Faraudo|website=SI.com|date=July 4, 2021|access-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref> He re-opened his recruitment as a senior, but ultimately signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Cal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/jaydn-ott-decommits-from-cal|title=RB Jaydn Ott De-Commits From Cal, Reopens Recruiting|first=Jake|last=Curtis|website=SI.com|date=September 17, 2021|access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref>
==College career== ===California=== ====2022==== Ott rushed for 104 yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for 26 yards and one touchdown in his collegiate debut against UC Davis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/09/cal-football-fab-freshman-ott-has-golden-bears-off-and-running|title=Cal football: Fab freshman Ott has Golden Bears off and running|work=The Mercury News|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref> He made headlines in week 4 after rushing for 274 yards, the third-most in a game in school history and most ever by a Pac-12 freshman, and three touchdowns in a 49–31 win over Arizona.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/college/article/Jaydn-Ott-runs-for-274-and-3-scores-as-Cal-knocks-17464806.php|title=Cal's Jaydn Ott runs for 274 yards and 3 TDs as Bears knock off Arizona|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=September 24, 2022|access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3639640/2022/09/29/true-freshman-report-cal-colorado/|title=The True Freshman Report: A new quarterback at Colorado, a star running back at Cal|first=Manny|last=Navarro|website=The Athletic|date=September 29, 2022|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> As a true freshman, Ott ran for 897 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding another 321 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He led all Pac-12 freshmen in all-purpose yards per game, all-purpose yards, total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. Ott was named a Freshman All-American for the 2022 season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jaydn Ott - Football |url=https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/jaydn-ott/24281 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=California Golden Bears Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
====2023==== As a sophomore, Ott continued to see success, scoring 15 total touchdowns and running for a Pac-12 high 1,315 rushing yards. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors, and was a candidate for the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards.<ref name=":0" /> Following the season, Ott announced via social media that he would be returning to Cal for the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaydn Ott Announces Return To Cal In 2024 |url=https://calbears.com/news/2023/12/15/football-jaydn-ott-announces-return-to-cal-in-2024.aspx |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=California Golden Bears Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
===Oklahoma=== On April 15, 2025, Ott announced that he would be transferring to Oklahoma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Cal running back Jaydn Ott transferring to Oklahoma|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44690435/former-cal-running-back-jaydn-ott-transferring-oklahoma|first=Jake|last=Trotter|date=April 15, 2025|access-date=May 14, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> Ott was unable to recapture the skills and success he had at California. He never started a game at Oklahoma, where he only earned 21 carries in the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaydn Ott - Oklahoma Sooners Running Back |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4685489/jaydn-ott |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> He spent the season as a backup, third, or fourth string player -- he did not score a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Homrok |first=Daniel |date=2025-09-15 |title='Wish he was further along': Senior running back Jaydn Ott struggles to fit in OU offense |url=https://www.oudaily.com/sports/oklahoma-sooners-sec-football-jaydn-ott-brent-venables/article_2b72966c-f746-4545-ab89-2fb3432ddfd9.html |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=OU Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=John |date=August 26, 2025 |title=Why was transfer RB Jaydn Ott listed 3rd on Oklahoma's depth chart? |url=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/sooners/football/2025/08/26/oklahoma-sooners-football-jaydn-ott-depth-chart-barnes-blaylock/85830939007/ |access-date=2025-12-19 |website=Sooners Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Statistics === {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! TD |- ! 2022 !! California | 12 || 10 || 170 || 897 || 5.3 || 8 || 46 || 345 || 7.5 || 3 |- ! 2023 !! California | 12 || 12 || 246 || 1,315 || 5.3 || 12 || 25 || 169 || 6.8 || 2 |- ! 2024 !! California | 10 || 10 || 116 || 385 || 3.3 || 4 || 24 || 222 || 9.3 || 1 |- ! 2025 !! Oklahoma | 7 || 0 |21 |68 |3.2 |0 |2 |10 |5.0 |0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jaydn-ott-1.html Career] !! 41 !! 32 !! 553 !! 2,665 !! 4.8 !! 24 !! 97 !! 746 !! 7.7 !! 6 |}
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11 | weight = 198 | dash = 4.49 | ten split = 1.53 | twenty split = 2.56 | shuttle = 4.24 | cone drill = 7.06 | vertical = 40.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 11 | bench = 16 | arm span = 30 3/4 | hand span = 8 3/4 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 1 5/8 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1057175&DraftYear=2026 |title=Jaydn Ott College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 19, 2026}}</ref> }} Ott signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|title=Breaking Down the Chiefs 2026 Undrafted Free Agent Class|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/breaking-down-the-chiefs-2026-undrafted-free-agent-class-|author=McMullen, Matt|website=Chiefs.com|date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Ott is of partial Samoan descent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McRae |first=Kyle |date=2024-05-30 |title=A People Person |url=https://calbears.com/news/2024/5/30/deibj-a-people-person.aspx |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=California Golden Bears Athletics |language=}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/jaydn-ott/21284 California Golden Bears bio] *[https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/jaydn-ott/19567 Oklahoma Sooners bio]
{{Kansas City Chiefs roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ott, Jaydn}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:California Golden Bears football players Category:Norco High School alumni Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players Category:Players of American football from Norco, California Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Kansas City Chiefs players