Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott and defensive lineman Jayden Jackson were named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list on Thursday.
The award is given to the most outstanding college player of Polynesian ancestry who, according to the Polylnesian Football Hall of Fame, the organization that hands out the award, “exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field.” Previous winners of the award, which has been given out since 2014 at the collegiate level, include former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and, most recently, Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
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Jackson is a reigning Freshman All-American after a standout first season with the Sooners. He started 10 of the team’s 13 games at defensive tackle, including three for-loss, with two sacks. When he started the team’s season opener against Temple last year, Jackson became first freshman to start on the defensive line since Tommie Harris did so in 2001.
Ott is preparing for his first year in Norman after transferring from California-Berkeley in the offseason. He was a first-team All-Pac 12 player two seasons ago after rushing for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. Last year, injuries bothered Ott, and he finished with just 385 yards and four touchdowns. Still, Ott ranked as a top-50 player in the transfer portal when he entered after the 2024 season and ultimately chose Oklahoma.
The watch list includes 81 players from 40 different teams across Division I football. Four other SEC players were also named: Texas linebacker Liona Lefau, Texas A&M center Mark Nabou, Tennessee defensive lineman Jaxson Moi and Ole Miss cornerback Kapena Gushiken.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Pair of OU Football players named to Player of the Year watch list
