Latest news with #CrimsonCombine
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where does Jaydn Ott land in ESPN's spring portal player rankings?
Where does Jaydn Ott land in ESPN's spring portal player rankings? With spring football practice and the NCAA spring transfer portal window in the rearview mirror, we've reached a (mostly) quiet part of the college football offseason. Teams will return after their post-spring ball break for summer workouts, and then fall camp and media days will be here before we know it. The spring was a very busy time for the Oklahoma Sooners, as they wrapped up spring ball on April 12th with the first-ever "Crimson Combine". But, most of the news came via the spring portal window, and OU's movement within. It was new general manager Jim Nagy's first crack at player acquisition and roster management, and he seemed to be up to the challenge. The Sooners faced some drama with defensive tackle David Stone entering the portal, but Nagy, head coach Brent Venables and assistant coaches like Todd Bates convinced him to withdraw a few days later. While retaining Stone was arguably the biggest move of the spring portal window for the Sooners, the acquisition of former Cal running back Jaydn Ott would have to be a close second. In their ranking of transfers from the spring portal window, ESPN ranked Ott third overall on the list. He came in behind only former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA, and former Stanford outside linebacker David Bailey, who transferred to Texas Tech. "Cal fought hard to keep Ott in the fold for 2025, but one of the top returning backs in college football is hitting the open market. Ott got off to a spectacular start to his career with the Bears, earning Freshman All-America honors as a true freshman starter in 2022 after putting up 1,218 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns in his debut season. He was even better as a sophomore, leading the Pac-12 with 1,315 rushing yards and 12 TDs on his way to first-team all-conference honors. Last year, though, an ankle injury suffered in the season opener made it tough for Ott to play up to his potential. He still managed to play in 10 games but finished the year with 385 rushing yards on 3.3 yards per carry and five total scores. After receiving significant SEC interest this offseason, Ott is ready to get back to playing at a high level but is now looking to do so elsewhere for his senior season." - Max Olson, ESPN. Ott's potential is obvious, and his production from when he was healthy has Sooner fans salivating. His health will be a major key in 205, but he's got a chance to be a star in Norman. "Ott could be at the top of NFL draft boards if there wasn't a drop-off in production last season. While he lacked a formidable offensive line and played on an injured ankle, he still lacked the explosive runs we saw as an underclassman. He'll still be highly coveted in the spring portal market as an instant-impact weapon with his dynamic traits. Ott possesses exceptional feet and lateral agility. He's a verified 4.5 laser in the 40-yard dash with impressive explosive metrics, but his best asset is his vision and ability to pick and slide gap to gap with quick-twitch elusiveness. Ott doesn't give defenders a clean shot in the hole and can stretch and bounce to the perimeter just as effectively. He breaks tackles with balance more than power and is a productive pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, which raises his value and ability to fit into most schemes. Given the wear on the tires, he might not be able to carry the whole load in the backfield." - Billy Tucker, ESPN. Ott steps into the lead back role for the Sooners, and he should be the first option in a room with a lot of good players. His ability could take the Oklahoma offense to another level, lining up next to John Mateer. "The Sooners got solid production from Jovantae Barnes and some encouraging play from Xavier Robinson last season, but they couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a true No. 1 back. He'll team up with quarterback John Mateer in Norman in what should be one of the SEC's most improved offenses this fall." - Olson, ESPN. Ott could have a huge impact this fall, especially if he can stay healthy in a Sooner uniform. While that was the biggest acquisition that Nagy made this spring, Oklahoma wasn't done. They have also added depth at defensive tackle, center, wide receiver, kicker and quarterback. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Brent Venables looking for players at 'every position' in the transfer portal
Brent Venables looking for players at 'every position' in the transfer portal When Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables opened up his press conference after OU's "Crimson Combine" this weekend, it was only a matter of time before he was asked about the spring NCAA transfer portal window. With spring football closed, the attention of the college football public turns to the spring portal, which runs from Wednesday until April 25th. It's the last opportunity for Oklahoma to add to its roster before the 2025 season begins in late August. Venables and his coaching staff won't be shy about exploring the spring portal window. The head coach made sure to be clear about that on Saturday. "Again, you're looking at, you know, probably every position on your team," Venables said. "You say, 'Well, we could use another guy there,' you really could. And so we have our priorities and really don't want to talk through those right now." More: Oklahoma Sooners General Manager planning to be aggressive in Spring Transfer Portal On Tuesday evening, the Sooners signed interior offensive lineman Jake Maikkula from Stanford and running back Jaydn Ott from Cal. Venables also expressed the importance of retaining his own players as well, a constant struggle in the new world of college football. 'I think retention is the most important part of the whole puzzle," Venables said. 'You want to develop a locker room that has continuity, consistency, stability. That's healthy to be successful. And if you look at our roster and the numbers that we've signed — each year its gone down. And that's ideally what you want ... 'And you're going to have some fluidity. That's just the nature of where we're at today. But you want guys that are speckled throughout your roster that have been here three, four, five years. In a perfect world, you want a roster that has somewhere in that 75 to 25, 80 to 20, high school to portal range. I think that's a philosophy that we all believe in from a continuity standpoint.' As Venables assumes full control of the defense and Ben Arbuckle steps into the role of offensive coordinator, the duo has an opportunity to build depth and improve this team. What OU does over the next ten days could have a big impact on how the 2025 season goes. According to the head coach, the Sooners are evaluating every position on the roster. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma GM Jim Nagy comments on Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee breakup
Oklahoma GM Jim Nagy comments on Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee breakup New Oklahoma Sooners general manager Jim Nagy has been tasked with helping turn the program around after a 6-7 season in 2024. Nagy, who replaces Curtis Lofton, is bringing a new, progressive approach to the name, image and likeness wilderness that college football is currently wandering in. His hire at OU has been praised as a move that could help the team get back into championship contention. At the "Crimson Combine", Nagy was asked about a big piece of college football news that is arguably the biggest story in all of sports right now. The breakup of the Tennessee Volunteers and former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava sent shockwaves across college athletics. Iamaleava held out of practice and team meetings for more money on his NIL "contract" late last week, prompting head coach Josh Heupel to announce on Saturday that the Vols had parted ways with their starting quarterback. Iamaleava will enter the transfer portal when it opens from April 16 to 25 and will look for his next home in college football. More: Oklahoma recruiting strategy more important than ever amid Nico Iamaleava saga The duo of Iamaleava and Heupel, representing opposite sides, may have just changed college football with their respective decisions. And if something like that can happen at a place like Knoxville, rich in tradition and history, who's to say it can't happen in Norman? Nagy, speaking just hours after the news of the split broke, explained a group text between him and the OU coaching staff where he laid down the law. His plan is to stop similar issues from even coming up at Oklahoma. "This can't happen here," Nagy said. "There are red flags along the way that probably could've pointed to this happening ... That's a doomsday scenario." Nagy also emphasized the importance of building relationships with players and their families throughout the recruiting process, a stance that is in line with head coach Brent Venables' philosophy as well. "I think you really need to get to know these players and their families through the recruiting process," Nagy said. "Knowing the player is one thing. We can all watch the tape and identify that. But when we have families on campus and we have players on campus, that's really work to get to know them." Iamaleava's choice certainly isn't the last of its kind in college football. Oklahoma's new GM is doing his best to ensure that the Sooners don't find themselves in that kind of situation down the road. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OU football GM Jim Nagy on Nico Iamaleava situation: 'This can't happen here'
NORMAN — OU football general manager Jim Nagy spoke candidly when he joined the Sooners' in-stadium radio broadcast during Saturday's Crimson Combine. "There is a rather big story going on in Knoxville," analyst Gabe Ikard said, referring to Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava's intention to enter the transfer portal following public NIL disputes. "I don't really want to ask you about that specifically, but what is your strategy, your staff's strategy, the coaches. How do we avoid a situation like that?" Advertisement ESPN reported Saturday morning the Volunteers intend to move on from Iamaleava in the wake of his decision to not attend practice Friday amid NIL contract discussions with the school. Yahoo Sports also reported Iamaleava has submitted his paperwork to enter the transfer portal. Nagy said he was in a group text message thread with OU's coaches Saturday morning discussing a situation "at another school." "This can't happen here," Nagy told the coaches. "There are red flags along the way that probably could've pointed to this happening. ... That's a doomsday scenario." Nagy emphasized the importance of getting to know players and families during the recruiting process. Advertisement "I think you really need to get to know these players and their families through the recruiting process," Nagy said. "Knowing the player is one thing. We can all watch the tape and identify that. But when we have families on campus and we have players on campus, that's really work to get to know them." More: OU football defensive back Mykel Patterson-McDonald will enter transfer portal Colton Sulley covers college sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@ or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football GM Jim Nagy on Nico Iamaleava: 'This can't happen here'
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OU football defensive back Mykel Patterson-McDonald will enter transfer portal
NORMAN — Minutes before OU football began to wrap its spring camp with the Crimson Combine, defensive back Mykel Patterson-McDonald announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Patterson-McDonald, a four-star prospect out of Westmoore High School in the 2024 class, didn't play a snap as a freshman last season. Advertisement The Moore native played defensive back, wide receiver and running back for the Westmoore, earning first-team All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference honors in 2023. He recorded 62 solo tackles, 14 pass breakups and one interception as a senior in 2023 when he was named the District 6A-I Defensive Back of the Year. Patterson-McDonald is the Sooners' second transfer portal entry this spring following tight end Davon Mitchell's departure last week. The spring transfer portal opens next Wednesday. More: OU football Crimson Combine live updates: Sooners observations, highlights from 2025 event Colton Sulley covers college sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@ or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football DB Mykel Patterson-McDonald will enter transfer portal
