Otto, who came to Mizzou from McBride High School, was a standout two-way player for Coach Dan Devine from 1962-64, and helped lead the Tigers to a record of 21-7-3 during those seasons. Mizzou finished each of those years ranked in the nation's top-20, including final rankings of 12th in 1962, 16th in 1963 and 18th in 1964.
Otto's leadership was recognized, as he served as the sole team captain during his senior season of 1964. He also backed it up on the field, as Otto was named 1st-Team All-Big Eight and honorable mention All-American as a linebacker during his senior season.
Otto played both linebacker and fullback for Devine's teams, and he had a penchant for making big plays. In his junior year alone, Otto twice scored the only Tiger touchdown of the game in a pair of road wins. The first came on a 2-yard run at 8th-ranked Arkansas in the 3rd quarter to give the Tigers a 7-6 upset win. Later in the season, with Mizzou locked in a scoreless tie at Iowa State, Otto intercepted a Cyclone pass at midfield in the 4th quarter, and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown which served as the only score in a 7-0 MU win.
Following his Mizzou days, Otto enjoyed an outstanding pro career with the Oakland Raiders, where he played in 102 games from 1965-72, and was a starter for his entire career. Otto played in the 1969 AFL All-Star Game, played in Super Bowl II, and was a member of the Raider team that won the AFL Championship in 1967.
Otto was selected to Mizzou's All-Century Team in 1990, and later was inducted into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
Congratulations to Gus Otto, his family, friends and teammates, for this outstanding honor, and for representing Mizzou Football and the University of Missouri in such a first-class manner!