TUMWATER — Rick McGrath has made his impact felt for decades as an assistant coach for the Tumwater High School football team. Whether it be his summer workouts or his fiery attitude on the sidelines, he has seen countless athletes that have stood out.
On the field is one thing. What McGrath loves talking about his off the field instances he sees.
Mention the name Cade Otton and he’s got a story geared up.
“He was at University of Washington and we’re out here and the water boys are looking around and it is Cade, Cade is our water boy,” McGrath said while holding back tears. “Cade is just a special young man you don’t see come around a lot. He’s a far better person than he is an athlete.
“He will do anything for anybody."
As much as Otton was one of the premier players during his prep career, a list of accolades that included being the AP Player of the Year in Class 2A and setting several school records, what others laude him for is his ability to be a good teammate.
No matter if he was a freshman first-time T-Bird or a captain his senior year.
“Without reservation, he was the best teammate I’ve ever seen,” fellow assistant coach Tony Prentice said. “Practice, games, he treated everybody like you would want to be treated and he did it better than any teammate since I've been at Tumwater.”
So when Otton and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waltz into Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon to face the Seattle Seahawks, the spectators that would usually all cheer with the fabled 12s will have alliances in both directions.
It is Otton’s first time playing in Washington State since he departed the University of Washington four years ago.
“It is going to be an amazing experience,” Cade’s brother and former T-Bird and Husky Ryan Otton said. “Being in Lumen Field, it will be a little more surreal. I can’t wait.”
Prentice and McGrath are the lone coaches that were with Cade throughout his four years. Both remember fondly the person, player and of course, teammate Cade was.
Neither really could tell if they were watching a future NFL tight end before their very eyes. At the end of the day, they weren’t all that shocked.
“I never had anything to judge off of, but definitely looking at a college football player,” Prentice said.
“He was never trying to take your head off like a lot of the other guys were,” one-time teammate and current Washington State RB Dylan Paine added. “He’s the definition of a leader by example. He did everything the right way.”
Cade was a consensus three-star prospect out of high school and got several offers from various Power-5 programs, but ultimately decided to stick home and be a UW Husky. He left after his junior year to enter the NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay selected him with the 106th pick in the fourth round. He was picked three spots ahead of Seattle.
The Ottons’ grew up Seahawks fans, but Ryan admitted they didn’t watch many games in person. Football was a busy time for the family with their dad Tim still coaching and their grandfather, the legendary Sid Otton, still leading the program.
“For myself, I’ve never been to a Seahawks game,” Ryan added.
Tampa’s opponents and locations for the 2025 season were known before the end of the 2024 campaign. All that remained was finalizing a date. And with both the Bucs and Seahawks at 3-1, there’s even more at stake.
“We were ecstatic about it,” Ryan said.
Even though Cade is three time zones away, he still will make an appearance in South Thurston County. When Tumwater had its summer kids camp, Cade signed a ton of autographs, took photos and never stopped smiling.
He didn’t ask to do it, either. He wanted to.
“Most of the kids that are in our program now would have been little TCYFL guys when Cade was here, so they got to see him play through college,” current T-Birds head coach Willy Garrow said. “He is accessible and willing to hang out. To hear him, he’s a typical Otton, super humble. We’re pretty lucky.”
Whether Cade gets just one catch or explodes for three touchdowns, his even-keel personality is what the people in his inner circle love about him. There will be a handful of coaches that make the trek north and the Otton family will have several in the stands.
All cheering for the 6-foot-5, 247-pound player that once upon a time, was a staple of highlights and hard hits at Tumwater District Stadium.
“He was just unique,” McGrath said. “What Sally and Tim put Cade in to and how Cade carries himself is probably what Tim and Sally have given to that young man.”
