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Cal star running back and former 1,300-yard rusher Jaydn Ott is entering the transfer portal, according to 247Sports' Matt Zenitz.
The Norco, California, native was one of Wisconsin's top running back targets in the class of 2022. After visiting Madison during the team's 2021 game against Army, the four-star recruit eventually chose the Cal Bears over the Badgers, Colorado Buffaloes, BYU Cougars, Oregon State Beavers and USC Trojans.
Wisconsin's class of 2022 did not include a running back. At the time, Braelon Allen had just burst onto the scene with 1,268 yards as a true freshman and was set to lead the backfield for several years.
Ott found plenty of success at Cal. He excelled as a true freshman in 2022, taking 170 carries for 897 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, plus adding 46 catches, 345 receiving yards and three receiving scores. He then emerged as one of the best running backs in the country in 2023, leading the Pac-12 in carries (246) and rushing yards (1,315) in addition to 25 catches, 169 receiving yards and 14 all-purpose touchdowns.
The former four-star recruit then battled injury through the 2024 season, finishing with just 385 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries. He is in the portal for a final year of eligibility.
Ott is unsurprisingly a four-star transfer prospect, ranked specifically as the portal's No. 50 overall player and No. 3 running back. Those rankings also include committed players from the winter transfer window. Only considering the spring period, which spans from April 16 to April 25, Ott is sure to be one of the best players available.
Wisconsin enters 2025 with sophomore Darrion Dupree and redshirt junior Cade Yacamelli set to lead its running back room. The duo combined for 112 carries, 591 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, mostly in complementary roles to starter Tawee Walker. Expectations are high for the two entering 2025 as new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes installs his pro-style scheme, although those expectations are projections, given each has yet to take on a full workload.
In today's age of college football, where top transfer talents become available throughout the offseason, it's hard to ignore Wisconsin as a potential landing spot for Ott. While the program has a completely different coaching staff since Ott's high school recruitment, those connections tend to matter during transfer recruitments.
Ott should be a player to circle as the spring transfer window heats up. He'd immediately give Wisconsin one of the best rushing attacks in the conference.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football former top recruiting target enters transfer portal
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The Norco, California, native was one of Wisconsin's top running back targets in the class of 2022. After visiting Madison during the team's 2021 game against Army, the four-star recruit eventually chose the Cal Bears over the Badgers, Colorado Buffaloes, BYU Cougars, Oregon State Beavers and USC Trojans.
Wisconsin's class of 2022 did not include a running back. At the time, Braelon Allen had just burst onto the scene with 1,268 yards as a true freshman and was set to lead the backfield for several years.
Ott found plenty of success at Cal. He excelled as a true freshman in 2022, taking 170 carries for 897 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, plus adding 46 catches, 345 receiving yards and three receiving scores. He then emerged as one of the best running backs in the country in 2023, leading the Pac-12 in carries (246) and rushing yards (1,315) in addition to 25 catches, 169 receiving yards and 14 all-purpose touchdowns.
The former four-star recruit then battled injury through the 2024 season, finishing with just 385 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries. He is in the portal for a final year of eligibility.
Ott is unsurprisingly a four-star transfer prospect, ranked specifically as the portal's No. 50 overall player and No. 3 running back. Those rankings also include committed players from the winter transfer window. Only considering the spring period, which spans from April 16 to April 25, Ott is sure to be one of the best players available.
Wisconsin enters 2025 with sophomore Darrion Dupree and redshirt junior Cade Yacamelli set to lead its running back room. The duo combined for 112 carries, 591 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, mostly in complementary roles to starter Tawee Walker. Expectations are high for the two entering 2025 as new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes installs his pro-style scheme, although those expectations are projections, given each has yet to take on a full workload.
In today's age of college football, where top transfer talents become available throughout the offseason, it's hard to ignore Wisconsin as a potential landing spot for Ott. While the program has a completely different coaching staff since Ott's high school recruitment, those connections tend to matter during transfer recruitments.
Ott should be a player to circle as the spring transfer window heats up. He'd immediately give Wisconsin one of the best rushing attacks in the conference.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football former top recruiting target enters transfer portal
Continue reading...
