52  Tyler Ottem
	Class: Sophomore Hometown: Big Lake, Minn. High School: Big Lake Height / Weight: 6-4 / 246 Position: Defensive End

UW This Season: Tyler Ottem is entering his third year in the Wyoming Football program this season. He gained valuable game experience as a redshirt freshman in 2004. He will provide depth at defensive end this coming season, as he is listed No. 3 on the depth chart behind returning starter and senior John Flora and junior Mike Groover. Ottem is an outstanding all-around athlete, having also played hockey in high school.

2004: Ottem played in six games in his redshirt freshman season, including each of the final three games of the season. He was credited with two total tackles and assisted on one tackle for a loss.

2003: Redshirted.

High School: Ottem earned All-Section and All-Conference honors as a tight end and defensive end at Big Lake High School in Big Lake, Minn. He was captain of his football team as a senior, and was named his team's Most Valuable Player. On the ice, he captained his high school hockey squad as a junior and senior, and earned Second Team All-Conference honors in hockey. As a defensive end, he made 73 tackles, including nine sacks, and he recovered one fumble his senior season. Two of his sacks resulted in safeties. As a tight end, he caught nine passes for 152 yards and scored two touchdowns. His senior season of 2002, Ottem led his high school team to a 7-3 record and the second round of the Class 3A sectional playoffs. As a junior, his team posted an 8-4 record and finished second in the sectional playoffs. An exceptional student, he earned Academic All-Conference honors in football for three years, and was an Academic All-Conference selection in hockey all four years of high school. Ottem was a National Honor Society member both his junior and senior years of high school. He was on the "A" Honor Roll his freshman through junior seasons. Active in student government, as well, Ottem was a student council representative his freshman, junior and senior years. His high school football coach was Brad Schmidt. Other universities he was recruited by included: Dartmouth, Penn and Yale.

Personal: Born Feb. 9, 1985, he is the youngest of two sons of Vickie and Larry Ottem. His older brother, Pete, played football at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Ottem has not yet declared a college major.