In a surprising turn of events, California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott has entered the NCAA transfer portal, as confirmed by multiple sources on Monday.
Ott, a graduate transfer, is considered one of the top returning running backs in college football. The 6-foot, 205-pound athlete earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 after leading the conference with 1,315 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Over his three-year tenure at Cal, Ott amassed 3,460 all-purpose yards, ranking third among all FBS backs set to return for the 2025 season.
This decision comes months after Ott publicly announced his intention to return to Cal for his senior season. In December, he posted a clip from The Wolf of Wall Street on social media, emphatically stating, “I’m not leaving.” However, recent reports suggest that Cal faced significant interest from SEC programs vying for Ott’s commitment, which may have influenced his decision to explore other opportunities.
Ott’s 2024 season was hampered by an ankle injury sustained in the opener, limiting his performance to 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries. Despite the setback, he remained a versatile threat, contributing 24 receptions for 222 yards and an additional touchdown.
Cal’s backfield faces further challenges as running backs Kadarius Calloway, Byron Cardwell Jr., and Justin Williams-Thomas have also entered the transfer portal. The Bears will look to Jaivian Thomas, who led the team with 626 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season, to anchor their rushing attack moving forward.
As the spring transfer window opens, Ott is expected to be a highly sought-after prospect. Programs like Oklahoma have already emerged as potential destinations for the dynamic running back.
The NCAA spring transfer portal officially opens on Wednesday and will close on April 25.
