Two Division I-bound tight ends set to lead Tumwater’s Wing-T offense
Tumwater High School football has turned out more than a few productive tight ends over the years.
Running their established Wing-T offense, the T-Birds have developed tight ends with elite blocking ability who can also factor into the passing game.
In the past decade alone, the program has sent a pair of standout tight ends to FBS or FCS programs: Cade Otton, who was an All-Pac-12 performer at Washington last season, and Zach Wimberly, who went on to play four seasons at Eastern Washington.
In years past, many more tight ends have locked down the edge for Tumwater’s relentless attack.
“We’ve certainly been on a good run,” Tumwater coach Bill Beattie said.
This season, the T-Birds feature two talented starters at the position in seniors Ryan Otton and Austin Terry, who have both already committed to Division I programs next fall, and are believed to be the first two Tumwater players to join FBS programs in the same class.
Ryan Otton, a consensus four-star recruit, Cade’s younger brother and the youngest in a long line of Ottons who have played at Tumwater and for Division I schools, announced his commitment to the Huskies in July.
Terry, a three-star recruit and another key piece of this T-Birds’ offense since catching his first touchdown pass in a postseason game as a freshman, committed to Boise State in June.
Playing in the Wing-T offense has enabled both tight ends to build all-around skill sets as both seasoned run blockers and reliable targets in the passing game.
Both of the towering tight ends — Otton is listed at 6-foot-7 and Terry at 6-foot-5 — figure to be prominent pieces in Tumwater’s offense again this fall.
“I think, especially this year having Ryan and I fully developed in the offense, it’s exciting, and there should be a lot of production out of the tight ends,” Terry said.
“And even for the other guys, too. Sometimes the tight ends might be covered up, and that opens up opportunities for everyone else.”
Otton started playing tight end in Tumwater’s youth football system in third grade, and has featured primarily as a blocking tight end in his high school career.
He’s helped strengthen a line that led to T-Birds running backs rushing for well over 1,100 yards in six games in the spring, and more than 4,000 during Tumwater’s championship run in 2019. He’s also factored into the passing game, adding nearly 200 receiving yards the past two seasons at tight end.
Otton is also a big presence on Tumwater’s defensive line — in the past two seasons he’s piled up 70 tackles, including 17 for losses and 8.5 sacks — but is projected as a tight end when he moves on to college.
“I’ve just been playing that my whole life,” he said. “And I’ve gotten a huge opportunity, that’s the opportunity of a lifetime, to play it further into my career.”
The other side of this duo, Terry made the switch from offensive tackle to tight end when he reached high school, and has led the T-Birds in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.
With one high school season remaining, he is nearing the group of seven players in the program’s history that have posted more than 1,000 receiving yards in their careers.
He hauled in 11 catches for 212 yards and three touchdowns in six games this spring, and posted 450 receiving yards and seven scores on 22 catches the season before, while also adding another solid presence as a blocking tight end for the T-Birds.
Like his teammate, Terry also helps anchor Tumwater’s defensive line, and has collected 38 tackles, including 12 for losses and 7.5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries in the past two seasons, but projects as a tight end at Boise State.
“They have a great system with their tight ends,” Terry said. “Especially with their new offensive coordinator, coach (Tim) Plough. … So it was a perfect situation to step into. They have some young tight ends. I’m excited to compete with them. But, also learn from a few of the veteran guys that will be there when I show up.”
Otton and Terry already have thoughts on which program will win when Boise State travels to Seattle to play UW in 2023.
But, before they are on opposite sides of the football field, they have one season left to play as teammates on Tumwater’s sideline.
Even with their college football futures set, Otton and Terry have continued their work in the weight room this summer, and looked for opportunities to progress as they prepare along with their teammates to defend the Class 2A title they won with the T-Birds in 2019 as sophomores.
“They just absorb anything they can, and that’s what’s been really impressive to me with both of those kids,” Beattie said.
Tumwater opens its season against Enumclaw on Sept. 3 with hopes of adding to the six state championships the program has already won in its storied history.
“I just want to enjoy it, enjoy the fans being here, enjoy the time with my boys because this is the last opportunity we get together,” Otton said.
TUMWATER T-BIRDS
Coach: Bill Beattie, fifth year at Tumwater, 34th overall
2020 record: 6-0, first place in 2A EvCo
Offensive coordinators, base scheme: Jamie Weeks (run) and Rob Hinkle (pass), Wing-T
Defensive coordinator, base scheme: Tim Otton, 4-3
Top players: TE/DL Ryan Otton, 6-7, 240, sr.; TE/DL Austin Terry, 6-5, 235, sr.; RB Carlos Matheney, 6-0, 190, jr.; RB Payton Hoyt, 6-0, 180, sr.; WR Seth Weller, 6-4, 185, sr.; OL Justin Walter, 6-3, 245, sr.; OL Aiden Aguerro, 5-10, 240, sr.; LB Bennett Ferris, 5-10, 215, sr.; LB Caleb Sadlmyer, 6-0, 220, sr.; DB Ryan Orr, 6-0, 180, sr.; DB Ashton Paine, 6-1, 175, sr.
Outlook: Tumwater rolled to an undefeated 2A state championship — the sixth state title in program history — in 2019, and was favored to win it all again in 2020 before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. The T-Birds still finished with a perfect record in their six scheduled games in the spring, and haven’t lost a game since the 2A state quarterfinals in 2018. Despite graduating several starters on both sides of the ball, Tumwater does return two Division I-bound tight ends in Ryan Otton (committed to Washington) and Austin Terry (committed to Boise State), who will also help anchor the defense. The T-Birds will open their season on a 20-game winning streak as they seek to defend their 2019 title.
