Jim Otis
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| Jim Otis | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Date of birth: | April 29, 1948 |
| Place of birth: |  Celina, Ohio |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Running back |
| College: | Ohio State |
| NFL Draft: | 1970 / Round: 9 / Pick 218 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1970 1971-1972 1973-1978 |
New Orleans Saints Kansas City Chiefs St. Louis Cardinals |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1975 |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
James Lloyd "Jim" Otis (born April 29, 1948) is a former college and professional American football running back.
[edit] College career
Otis was a fullback for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1967-69. He led the team in rushing every year of his college career. In 1969 he was as a consensus first-team All-America selection, and was seventh in the vote for the Heisman Trophy.
Otis was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1996. In the Ohio State record book, he remains second only to Archie Griffin among Ohio State running backs in career rushing yards per game.
In 2000, Otis was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team.
[edit] NFL career
Otis was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1970. The following year he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Otis played the last six years of his nine-year NFL career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Otis' most successful year as a professional was in 1975, when he rushed for 1,076 yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
[edit] Family
Otis' father, Dr. James John Otis, had been the roommate and best friend of Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes when both men were members of the Sigma Chi fraternity of Denison University in the 1930s. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, Hayes broke off all social contact with the elder Otis during the son's college career. Dr. Otis lived and operated a medical practice in Celina, Ohio. Despite this, Otis is widely regarded to have benefitted from favorable treatment from Hayes during his tenure at Ohio State, most notably his controversial elevation to first string.
Otis' son, James John Otis II, was a star high school quarterback in the St. Louis area, and was invited to Ohio State in 2001 as a preferred walk-on. The youngest Otis lettered for Ohio State in 2003 for special teams play.
| Preceded by Paul Hudson |
Ohio State Buckeyes Starting Fullbacks 1967-1969 |
Succeeded by John Brockington |
| Preceded by Mark Stier |
Ohio State Buckeyes Football Season MVP 1969 |
Succeeded by Jim Stillwagon |
