Jaydn Ott talks about his goals prior to spring practice
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00:00 How are you?
00:01 Good. How about yourself?
00:02 Not too bad.
00:03 When you look at the development from the end of last season
00:07 towards this season, what has you most intrigued
00:09 about the group coming together for this upcoming year?
00:12 I would say being a player-led team,
00:15 the team has jumped from having to be told to do things
00:19 by coaches to taking it into our own hands.
00:22 And we all decided that we don't want a rerun
00:26 of the past two seasons.
00:27 And so it's not up to the coaches for --
00:32 it's not up to the coaches to make that change.
00:34 It's up to us.
00:35 And so we've got a group of leaders on the team
00:38 who are really taking charge and making sure things go right.
00:43 People are on time to meetings.
00:44 If not, then there's, you know, there's punishments.
00:50 Thank you.
00:51 Okay, we'll go to Jeff Ferrato.
00:53 Go ahead, Jeff.
00:54 Hey, Jaden. How you doing?
00:56 Good. How about you?
00:57 I'm good.
00:58 So tell us, if you would, what you've been doing
01:01 in the offseason and in what ways do you want to improve
01:05 in specific areas you want to improve this spring
01:08 and this summer before the season?
01:11 Yeah, I've gotten a little heavier.
01:15 I put on some more size.
01:18 But still been able to keep my speed.
01:21 But I think this year I'll be focusing on, like,
01:25 definitely, you know, you can always focus on football IQ.
01:29 But as far as, like, physically, shedding more tackles
01:33 and getting more yards after contact,
01:35 as well as getting my feet faster.
01:40 How much do you weigh now?
01:42 210.
01:43 And you're comfortable that that's not going to change
01:46 your quickness or your speed?
01:48 Yeah.
01:49 Now, we've been working out with, you know,
01:53 during the winter workouts.
01:54 I've been able to keep my speed.
01:56 And if at any point I do feel uncomfortable with it,
01:59 I just take it off.
02:02 Okay.
02:03 Any other first-round questions for Jaden?
02:10 All right.
02:11 We'll open it back up to anybody.
02:12 Just let me know and we'll go ahead
02:15 and ask Jaden some more questions.
02:20 Back to Thomas.
02:22 Go ahead, Thomas.
02:23 Jaden, I was curious with your development
02:26 in relationship with Isaiah Yfanzay last year
02:28 and how his veteran presence has helped develop
02:31 your leadership for this upcoming season
02:33 and the seasons to come.
02:35 Having Isaiah was great, man.
02:37 Like, he had a big impact on me in his short time here.
02:41 Just seeing, like, his selflessness, you know,
02:45 he was on special teams and never complained during practice,
02:49 always practiced hard.
02:51 And, yeah, I mean, he wasn't too much of a vocal leader,
02:55 but me and him, you know, we had our bond.
02:59 And, you know, whenever he would see me falling off,
03:02 he'll pick me back up and, you know,
03:04 pull me to the side and encourage me.
03:07 So I'm really appreciative for the relationship
03:10 that me and Isaiah have and to see him move
03:14 on to the next journey.
03:15 I know he's got a pro day here on the 19th or something,
03:20 and then see where he lands after that.
03:25 But, yeah, I think the way that he helped me
03:27 in my leadership is, you know,
03:30 I'm not too much of a rah-rah guy either.
03:35 I just feel like that's just not my style of leadership,
03:39 calling people out in front of the whole team.
03:41 So I kind of do a similar thing to Isaiah,
03:44 where I just pull people aside when I see them falling off
03:47 and, you know, give them words of encouragement.
03:52 Thank you.
03:54 Okay. We'll go back to Jeff. Go ahead, Jeff.
03:57 Jaden, I wonder if you could tell us
03:59 how Byron Cardwell's doing.
04:01 He was, you know, missed all last year, was hurt
04:03 after coming in from Oregon.
04:04 And also, if you've gotten a chance to work out
04:07 and get to know Kadarius Calloway,
04:10 the Old Dominion transfer,
04:11 and what he's going to bring to the room.
04:15 Yeah, as far as Byron, man, I'm excited to see him back.
04:18 He's fully healed up.
04:20 You know, he's been out there lifting with us
04:23 and running with us, cutting, you know,
04:26 and I'll check up on him, and he says he feels good.
04:29 So I'm excited to see him back out there on the field
04:32 and, you know, just help contribute to our offense.
04:37 And then as for Calloway, yeah,
04:39 I've gotten a chance to kick it with him.
04:41 You know, I was his host, actually, on his visit.
04:44 So we've been spending time since he got here.
04:48 You know, we'll hang out outside of football,
04:51 go to the basketball game, stuff like that, and bond.
04:55 But, I mean, as far as, like, him athletically,
04:59 I haven't seen any of his film or anything,
05:01 but, you know, I mean, he's here.
05:04 So, you know, like, he's obviously good.
05:08 So I think it just motivates everybody
05:11 in the running back room to elevate their game.
05:14 You feel like you guys have a nice, deep room at this point?
05:18 Yeah, for sure, we do.
05:21 And then we have a couple more coming as well.
05:24 So...
05:25 Can you tell us what your goals are for the team
05:28 and for yourself this coming season?
05:31 The team? For the...
05:33 All right, my team goal is to win the ACC Championship.
05:36 And for myself, I want the Doe Walker Award.
05:42 Are you aware of what the Cal career rushing record is,
05:45 and is that something that's on your radar at all?
05:48 No, can you fill me in?
05:50 Sure, it's about 3,300 yards,
05:52 so you got about 1,100 and something to go.
05:56 Wait, that's the rushing record?
05:58 That's the career rushing record.
06:01 Yeah.
06:03 You said 3,300?
06:05 Yeah, 3,300 and change.
06:06 You said it in the 1990s.
06:09 And I'm 1,100 off?
06:11 You're 1,100 behind that.
06:13 Oh, yeah, we'll grab that, too, on the way out.
06:16 All righty.
06:18 All right, you guys, anybody else?
06:20 Any final questions for Jayden?
06:24 Yeah, Jayden, you're fully healthy and feeling good right now?
06:28 I'm sorry, one more time?
06:30 I said you're fully healthy, feeling good right now?
06:32 Oh, yes, sir.
06:34 You'll be a full go in spring ball?
06:36 Yes, sir.
06:38 All right.
06:40 Okay, guys, we'll have Coach Wilcox, Sir Charlie Jayden,
06:43 thanks for your time.
06:44 Thank you, guys.
06:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]