With 12 offers currently on the table, Tumwater, WA. 4-star tight end, Ryan Otton won’t be making any decision any time soon, but give the edge to the home-state Huskies.
Otton, who stands 6-6 and weighs 235, hasn’t missed much — where UW is concerned — from the COVID restrictions in the past few months, “I’ve been there quite a bit”, he told Realdawg.com.
It’s not a coincidence, considering the fact that his older brother Cade is now a starter at tight end for the Huskies.
“I’ve learned so much from him”, Ryan explained, “He’s always trying to get me there — I mean — it’s all in fun.”
But the Huskies do have an excellent shot, not just of Cade, but also because Derham Cato has already made a marked impression on the younger Otton, “He’s an awesome person”, he said of the Husky TE coach, “He’s smart and he cares — and Cade has spoken so highly of him.”
When asked if he thought Cato could coach him up to the next level, Ryan simply said “I know he could.”
What are these coaches seeing on film?
Otton is very astute at blocking; more-so than most guys his age and stage in development, and he is good at routes, going across the middle when a QB wants to thread the needle, and the good news is that he’s still growing.
His older brother Cade earned the starting job at Washington because he’s similar in his game, and yet there’s no question that Ryan will receive more offers — that is, of course — once he starts showing his skills on the field again.
“We don’t start till February but we’re practicing right now”, he said.
The only thing standing between an early decision and a later decision right now is the fact that Otton, like other recruits, hasn’t yet been able to get out and see other schools.
“I really wanted to make an educated decision”, he said, “If I’m not able to get out and take (unofficial) visits, I won’t be able to.”
This has been the theme of 2022 recruiting so far; most kids are unwilling to make a decision, or even narrow down their lists because they haven’t had a chance to see the schools on their lists. And now we don’t even know if the NCAA will be able to lift the extended dead period because of the possibility of more lockdowns.
But Otton has seen Washington — and that could give the Huskies an advantage as the 2022 recruiting cycle draws near.
