10 Questions with....

All-Conference Tight End Cade Otton

BY BOB SHERWIN - CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Cade Otton, the Washington Huskies’ highly-celebrated tight end, had the opportunity to enter the 2021 NFL Draft but decided to return to Montlake for one more C season. That’s a road not often taken by a fifth-year junior, especially when taking it with your spouse – Otton married longtime sweetheart Sierra Snyder in January. “It’s such a blessing to be married,” says Cade, the only married player on the team. “We’d been together for a long time, and we were ready.”

The two met as 12-year-olds in their tight community of Tumwater, and stayed close thereafter. “A window of opportunity opened, and we decided to go for it,” says Otton. He also wanted to go for it with the Huskies, having been short-changed to just four games last season by Covid-19 restrictions. He believes he can get better as a player and that the Huskies can get better as a team. And he knows life will be better with Sierra. “She helps me a lot with football stuff,” he says. “She studies plays a lot, and watches all the tapes, off my shoulder. She’s awesome that way.” If the Huskies perform as they hope to this season, Sierra might just end up a Pac-12 championship trophy wife.

Here are 10 questions for the 6-foot-5, 245-pound 2020 All-Pac-12 first-team selection.

You’re part of a remarkable football family. Your grandfather, Sid Otton, the winningest coach in state history, was your head coach at Tumwater. Your father, Tim Otton, was the defensive coordinator, and your uncle, Brad Otton, was a former USC quarterback. How have they influenced you?

“I think the biggest thing is just the love for the game. I grew up around the game, around football. I started as a water boy in kindergarten. Then I graduated to ball boy in eighth grade. Then I was part of the team, and my grandpa was the coach for a long time, my dad, my uncle, my cousin, now my brother (Ryan). They all gave me a love for the game. I’m so lucky to be part of the program basically since I was four. ”

What was it like growing up in Tumwater and playing football in that community?

“I was born and raised there. I loved it. Football is a big part of that community. I was right in the middle of that. Every Friday night in the fall to be under the lights, hanging with friends and family and being part of the game, it was a blast.”

You were pursued by many college programs, why did you choose Washington?

“Hometown was definitely a factor. Another thing was that UDub is big on developing you as a man. That really resonated with me. My grandpa put a big emphasis on that. I grew up in that (environment) and when I met with Coach Pete (Chris Peterson) and the other coaches it felt like a fit. I don’t regret it at all.”

When did you believe you had a chance to play college football?

“I didn’t know if I could play until my first offer. I just focused exclusively on high school football and doing the best I could to win the state championship. When the first offer came in, I was shocked, completely surprised. It was after my junior year, from Eastern Washington. I didn’t think about it again until just before my senior year when the recruiting season began. It was a real learning experience. I’m lucky the University of Washington called.”

You could have declared for the NFL this winter but decided to come back to play for the Huskies. What factored into your decision?

“I think about all those factors, the timing of getting married, being around here (another year), I wanted to develop more as a player and accomplish more with the team. Our season was cut short. We didn’t get to play in the Pac-12 title game, in a bowl game. This is our chance to accomplish some big things. I just felt we had great potential to do big things this year, and I wanted to be part of it.”

What have been among your biggest thrills at Washington?

“I think about the noise of the crowd, the energy from the crowd, and celebrating with my teammates. Those are my most cherished memories. We’ve put the time in the gym during the off-season, doing the hard things. By game day with 70,000 people watching, it’ll be amazing. I’m so looking forward to that this year.”

You are part of the legacy of quality tight ends at UW — ‘Tight End U.’ How does the school keep developing players such as Mark Bruner, Jeremy Stevens, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Will Dissly and Drew Sample?

“I keep in touch with some of the former UDub players in the NFL, especially tight ends like Will and Drew. It’s definitely helpful to have resources in the league you can ask questions and get information from. I think it (quality TE) has to do with the fact that we’re heavily involved in the offense. We’re asked to do a lot. If you want to play, you have to be a really developed player and a smart player. It seems like that’s what the NFL is looking for. It’s definitely great to be part of this program as a tight end.”

You were an All-Pac-12 first team selection last season, and this year you’re mentioned as potential All-American. What does that mean to you?

“It’s definitely an honor to receive all that recognition. But honestly, the thing I most pay attention to is the respect of my teammates and what they think of me. That’s who I work with every day. They see the work I put in and I see the work they put in. What matters is how we interact with each other.”

For those of us who never had the opportunity, what is it like to play for such a high-caliber program at such a high level for a common goal?

“It’s really hard to describe. You hear about the military, about platoons going off to war together and they all become like brothers, even though they had no idea who they were before that. Maybe it’s not at that level for a sports team, but it’s pretty close. You go through so many things together, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When you are doing that on a daily basis, it brings everyone together and you bond. It’s hard to describe, but it’s definitely palpable on the team.”

After this season, the NFL could be next on your horizon. How does that make you feel?

“It’s surreal. I don’t think about it very often because I want to be present where I am. But it’s pretty neat. It’s really kind of crazy, honestly.”

Cade Otton