Jim Nagy compares newest Oklahoma Sooners offensive addition to one of NFL’s best all-time playmakers, raves about game-changing ability originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Oklahoma Sooners made waves in the spring transfer portal period when they pulled in Cal running back Jaydn Ott to add an elite playmaker to their offense. Ott was Jim Nagy’s first big splash move as general manager of the Sooners.
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While Oklahoma returned talent at running back like Xavier Robinson, Jovantae Barnes, and Taylor Tatum, none of them quite have the same game-changing ability that Ott brings to the table.
Ott’s presence in the run game has drummed up plenty of excitement about Oklahoma’s offensive potential, and has campus buzzing.
Appearing on The Dari Nowkhah Show this week, Nagy gushed about Ott and compared him to one of the NFL’s most dangerous running backs of the 21st century.
“He’s really a gamebreaker. You can’t have enough guys who can make explosive plays, and the game is won on explosive plays and the ability to stop explosive plays. He can score from anywhere on the field. He really can. He’s one of those guys.Â
We’ll see what Jaydn looks like as a pro, but as a college player that’s [Jamaal Charles] him, man. He can get us out of some really bad spots, and he’s one of those guys that we don’t have to block it for him; he can create a lot of unblocked yards, which is huge. You’re playing in the SEC and (facing) really good defensive lines, and you need guys who can create. He can certainly do that.”
When Nagy first landed the job and began discussing the idea of adding “game-breaking” players with the staff, Ott’s name quickly rose to the top of their discussion. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle saw him first-hand during his time at Washington State and told Nagy, “I think he went for 300 all-purpose yards on us; we couldn’t stop the guy”.
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Comparing Ott to Jamaal Charles is lofty, considering Charles is quite easily a top-five running back of the 2010s and one of the game’s best playmakers ever, but it speaks volumes about the staff’s belief in his talent and what he can be for the Sooners.
Oklahoma has had some talented running backs over the years, but ever since the duo of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon departed, the only player who was a true “gamebreaker” was Rodney Anderson, who the Sooners only really got to unleash for about eight games due to multiple injuries.
If Ott can deliver on his hype, the ceiling is sky high for the Sooners’ offense in 2025.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.