By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As Hayden's football team got ready for Day 2 of fall preseason practice on Tuesday, star senior lineman Joe Otting was the picture of contentment, wearing a big smile while interacting with his teammates.
Notre Dame commit Joe Otting (65) applies pressure on the quarterback during last season's Hayden game against Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
Part of Otting's happiness comes from the simple fact that the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder is thrilled to be back on the football field for one last high school season with his Wildcats.
But Otting, who made an oral commitment to Notre Dame in early June, admitted that already having his future plans set with one of college football's most storied programs has also taken a big weight off his shoulders.
"It helps me a lot,'' Otting said. "I get to be a kid again and not worry about a bunch of texts and calls from all these different coaches and just focus on my team and be with my buddies for one more year.
"Once I made (my commitment) and it was all said and done, that's when I found my comfortability again.''
Otting is coming off an outstanding junior season in three sports for the Wildcats, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors in football and basketball while also advancing to the Class 4A state track and field championships as a thrower.
Otting helped lead Hayden to the second round of the 3A football playoffs and an 8-2 record last fall and helped the Wildcats finish fourth in the 4A state basketball tournament.
The Hayden star would have the option of graduating at the end of the first semester and joining the Irish for spring practice, but Otting opted to soak up every last minute of his high school experience before heading off to South Bend, Ind.
"I'll be playing basketball and doing track,'' Otting said. "It's your senior year and you only get your senior year once in your life so you've just got to make the most of it.
"We have Senior Prom and things like that and I've just got to be with my buddies one more year.''
Shortly after his high school graduation Otting will turn all of his focus on his college career with the Fighting Irish.
"Once school ends I'll be going right up there,'' Otting said.
Of course, Otting's first priority at this point is helping the Wildcats make a deep run in the 3A playoffs.
"I'm excited about this year,'' he said. "We have a lot of good returners back but we also have a lot of newcomers starting, so I'm excited for that.
"We put in great work this offseason and I can't wait for it to pay off this season.''
