Otis Collier was a 1965 graduate of Mays High School, where he played football and ran track. He was a quarterback/halfback for the football team from 1961-1964. As a senior, he earned All-City honors in football. In track he was a state medalist as a member of the 1965 State Championship sprint medley relay team. He ran the second leg on the Rams’ winning sprint medley relay team that won in 2:00.01. The relay team also consisted of Frederick Pope, Willie Laster and Johnny Brown. He helped the Rams Track and Field team to State Finals Runner-up finishes in 1964 and 1965. The Rams competed in the all-Black Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association in the days before integration. He was named Mays High School’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year for the 1964-1965 school year.
After high school, he attended Florida A&M University on a football scholarship. He was a four-year starter and letterman for the Rattlers football team as an defensive back. He was named team’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman and was a two-time All-Conference (as a junior and senior). He also was chosen as a team co-captain for two seasons (as a junior and senior). Otis was named team’s Defensive Back of the Year as a junior. He received the Outstanding Senior Player award following his senior season. The other honors he earned during his senior season included All-State College Football and Black College All-American teams. Otis finished his career with 11 pass interceptions, including one he returned for 92 yards against Tennessee State (1967). He has been recognized as part of FAMU’s all-century football team. Otis was inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He tried out with the Miami Dolphins in 1970.
After graduation, Collier began a 30+ career as an educator and coach spending 25 years coaching football at various local high schools including South Dade, Palmetto, South Miami and Killian.
Here’s a list of the awards Collier has received:
1964 State Runner-Up Track Team
1964 2nd Team Miami News High School All-Star Football
1964 Honorable Mention Miami Herald All-City Football Team
1965 Senior on the State Championship Sprint Medley Relay Team
1965 State Runner-Up Track Team
1965 Outstanding Athlete of the Year
Football – 4 years
Track – 4 years
Four Year Starter – 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
1965 Rookie of the Year
1968 Co-Captain
1968 1st Team All SIAC Football Team
1968 Most Valuable Defensive Back
1969 Co-Captain
1969 Outstanding Senior Player Award
1969 1st Team All SIAC Football Team
1969 1st Team All State College Football Team
1969 2nd Team Black College Football All-American
Four Year Football Letterman – Florida A&M University
1993 Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s Outstanding Service Award
1998 Inductee into the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame
2005 All Century Football Team
2006 Lifetime Achievement Award
