NORMAN — Jaydn Ott and John Mateer Share a Memorable Encounter from 2023 Pac-12 Shootout
Jaydn Ott doesn’t shy away from talking a little smack about his one-on-one experience with Washington State quarterback John Mateer — a meeting that left a lasting impression on both players.
Back in November 2023, Ott was enjoying a breakout season at Cal, while Mateer was backing up Cam Ward for Washington State. The two teams met in Berkeley in a high-scoring Pac-12 showdown that ended with Cal edging out the Cougars 42-39.
Ott was a force throughout the game, rushing and receiving for 185 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 30 touches, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per play. However, what Ott recalls most vividly are two costly fumbles — including one near the goal line that was fortunately recovered by a Cal offensive lineman for a touchdown. On the other side, Washington State’s then-offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle remembers the game quite differently, noting that Ott “had his way” with the Cougars that day.
That performance has stayed with Arbuckle nearly two years later. When Ott entered the transfer portal and began talks with Oklahoma in April, Arbuckle — newly hired as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator — reminisced about that 2023 game. Ott was curious how Arbuckle envisioned using him in Oklahoma’s offense.
Arbuckle pointed to a specific play from the matchup that illustrated his plan. Late in the first half, with Cal leading by seven, Ott wasn’t in the backfield but lined up as a slot receiver on the right side on fourth-and-4 from Washington State’s 13-yard line. Running a shallow route, Ott caught a pass from quarterback Fernando Mendoza over the middle at the 12-yard line and glided into the end zone, giving Cal a 28-14 lead.
“That play really stuck out,” Arbuckle said. “It showed how we can get him into space and maximize his versatility.”
For Ott, the prospect of being moved around the formation, not just used as a traditional running back, is exciting. “His spread offense is really exciting,” Ott said. “Talking with him throughout the summer and recruiting process, I saw a lot of clips like that — where he moves me out wide to make plays in space.”
With that kind of vision, Oklahoma fans may see Ott add a dynamic new element to their offense in the upcoming season.
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