Film Don't Lie | Joe Otting
Everyone knew Joe Otting was going to work out at Notre Dame for their linemen camp and if he checked the boxes he needed to, then the Irish were going to push to land him.
I think we can safely say the boxes were checked.
Otting is a violent football player and superior athlete for an interior offensive lineman. He is one of my favorite Notre Dame targets this cycle and I love this pickup for the Irish.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 270
Projected Position: Guard or center
ISD Grade: 90 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 87.2 (4-star)
What he does best:
The kind of twitch he has off the ball as an offensive lineman is rare. He is exceptionally quick at the snap.
Otting is a freight train as a puller. He hits through people on contact.
He’s so agile for a big man and excels at getting to the second level. He has the potential to be a huge weapon on screens when he is asked to block out in space and down the field.
Though he isn’t asked to pass block much, this play is a great example of how he is able to disengage his initial block and pick up the blitzer. It shows great awareness.
What he needs to improve:
Obviously he is someone who is going to have to physically mature and put on the weight. My guess is that any questions Notre Dame might have had with that were answered when they got to see him up close and personal at camp. It also should be much easier once he concentrates on just football.
He’s inexperienced in pass protection and that will be an adjustment, but anyone who has seen him play basketball knows he can move extremely well. He has the feet to excel with that part of the game.
What’s his ceiling?
I think Otting’s ceiling is sky high. The only reason I don’t have him ranked higher than I do is because of the competition he is going against and the development he has to do physically.
I love that he is a multi-position player (9 sacks on defense) and that he’s a multi-sport athlete (basketball and track). When I watch Otting he reminds me of former Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum with the way he moves after the snap and the leverage he plays with.
I kept thinking that if he didn’t end up at Notre Dame, he’d probably develop into an All-Big Ten performer for the Hawkeyes. Too bad for Iowa that that’s not going to happen and very good for the Irish who just landed a very underrated prospect.
Who he could be:
Former Iowa OL Tyler Linderbaum
Men’s Homefield Heathered Gray Vintage T-shirt
