The start of the 2025 season has featured many positive storylines for OU, but one outlier remains.
The defense has allowed one touchdown in three games and ranks No. 4 in the country in scoring defense. The offense has garnered lots of success through redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, with Mateer ranking No. 1 in Fox Sports’ Heisman Trophy odds.
However, the status of senior running back Jaydn Ott proves worrisome. Against Temple, senior Jovantae Barnes, freshman Tory Blaylock and sophomore Xavier Robinson each recorded a carry before Ott’s first – which came in the fourth quarter.
“You wish he was further along in every way,” head coach Brent Venables said on Saturday. “Whatever opportunities you have, you get in there, and you’re ready. … Everything adds up; everything matters. So we’d love to get him going.”
Ott was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection in 2023 with 1,305 rushing yards, but he has not been a focal point for the Sooner offense, with 17 yards on nine carries in three games.
“He hasn’t built a relationship with all of us,” Mateer said “Not that he’s done a bad job but it takes time. We’ve all been there for him.”
However, Ott’s resiliency after an injury-riddled 2024 season made an impression on Barnes during the summer.
“Summer was a good time for him; he worked every day and never (complained),” Barnes said.
Barnes said Ott’s ability as a leader has been a positive note in the running back room.
“Someone who’s (a preseason) All-American and rushed for 1,300 yards and somewhere I want to be in my career, … any weak areas I have, he’s letting me know I can work on that or tweak it a little bit,” Barnes said.
As Ott tries to work his way into the OU offense, Arbuckle feels confident about the running back room.
“He’s been having great weeks of practice,” Arbuckle said about Ott on Saturday. “Our running back room is playing really well. Whenever you’ve got a lot of guys you trust, you’ve got to keep on finding ways to be creative and get people the ball.”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.