Recruiting Report: Carter Otto (2021)

Wearing #25 for Elk River has become quite prestigious since now Bethel University junior RB Sam Gibas wore the number while leading the Elk River Elks to their first state championship in 2016. The AP All-State, Vikings All-State, Mr. Football Finalist, and All-State wrestler Gibas was a powerful and shifty utility back that I can personally attest to was a handful to tackle. The Elks current #25: RB/OLB Carter Otto (5'11, 195) has a similar build as well as running style, and his stats leave no doubt that #25 has been well-spoken for since Gibas' graduation in 2017. The 2021 stud Otto was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions for Northstar Football News about his 2019 season and the recruitment process so far. NFN: Hello, Carter. Tell us a little bit about yourself, when you began playing football, and what you like about it. Otto: "I'm from around Tracy, MN and my cousin down there, Sawyer Otto, is tearing it up down there. I started playing football in 4th grade and a fun fact about me is that the gym is my favorite place to be. I like the competition football brings and the fact that you need all 11 guys doing their job for your team to be successful. I'm 5'11, 195 lbs, run a 4.51, bench 335, squat 500, and clean 250. I had 1189 rushing yards and 18 TDs last season to go along with 19 tackles and a forced fumble. I also like the little 1 on 1s that happen in every situation during a football play. NFN: How was Elk River's season in 2018? What were some highlights and lowlights? What did you learn from it and were you happy with how you played personally? Otto: The season for Team 127 was a good year overall and the team overcame a lot. We went 10-2 and the two losses were devastating. They were to Cambridge-Isanti and Owatonna and in the Cambridge game we just gave it to them. It was the last game of the season and the team has now used it to thrive in the grind and push ourselves to get back to U.S. Bank. Some highlights of the season were getting to the Bank again for the 3rd year in a row and having a dominant win over Sauk-Rapids. I learned a lot from a lot of the captains as well as all the upperclassmen and they just took me under their wings as only a sophomore and they trusted me to go out and get the job done. Adam Nelson always had a big influence on me and building my confidence up to get on varsity. [caption id="attachment_14300" align="alignright" width="300"] Credit: Carter Otto[/caption] My season was overall pretty good with 1189 rushing yards + 18 TDs as a sophomore and not even playing the whole season but it was a big step from playing freshman football the year before. NFN: What were your expectations for 2019 after ER's offseason and what is it like playing football for the Elks? Otto: The expectations this year for me is to get All-Conference honors, All-District honors, and to be on the Kare11 All-Metro team. As for the team, we expect to win state and we always set our standards high. This offseason I felt that I put in a lot of work physically and mentally. I ran sprints in track & field to build my speed up and it was definitely worth it. I also added 150 lbs. on my squat which was huge and I also hit a huge goal of mine by squatting 500 pounds. Playing football at ER is a lot of hard work and if you're not willing to put the work in on and off the field it probably isn't for you. The offense is really a physical grind and we grind out defenses until they break which we get to happen a lot. I like the deeper meaning of ER football and I feel like it has not only made me a better football player but a better man. NFN: Tell our readers about your season (before week 8) as well as your recruitment thus far? Any contact from colleges or game day visits? Otto: Our first 7 games went pretty well we are 7-0. Started out with a 57-0 win over Brainerd and I got my first varsity sack. Then we took on Buffalo and everyone wanted to watch the game because of last year's contest which was 80-70 and the highest scoring game in MN history. Then played at St. Francis who was hanging in there but in the end of the game I had four first downs to drive down the field and end the game. Playing at Andover for the 4th game came down to the wire but we were able to make a stand to win the game. I also got FVP MVP for that game by Prep Spotlight. I'm looking to play D1 football somewhere and have a school give me a chance to prove I'll always be the hardest worker in the room. I have a gamely visit from NDSU coming up and I've talked to Wisconsin. Sophomore Year Hudl: <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9537770/5bf1d3a0c11b7509fcf3a3fb">http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9537770/5bf1d3a0c11b7509fcf3a3fb</a>