Cal running back Jaydn Ott announces he’s coming back for his senior season

Standout running back Jaydn Ott announced on social media Sunday that he’ll return to Cal for his senior season.

Ott, who was slowed by a lingering ankle injury this season after rushing for more than 1,300 yards in 2023, posted on X that he’s coming back to Berkeley.

Ott’s return is welcome news for the Bears, who lost starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the transfer portal, where he eventually landed at Indiana University.

Ott ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, while also catching 25 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Ott suffered an ankle injury in the season opener and never could seem to get it completely healed as he rush for just 385 yards on 116 carries with four touchdowns.

A resurgence by Ott would give Cal a strong backfield as Jaivian Thomas is also back for a Bears squad that went 6-7 and 2-6 in their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Thomas was Cal’s leading rusher with 626 yards on 100 carries, and he scored seven touchdowns.