Too bad Albert Lea couldn’t have used just one more mailman.

Albert Lea native Ryan Otterson, who moved to Denver in the summer of 2001, months before he would have been a freshman at Albert Lea High School, was signed by the San Diego Chargers in April as an offensive tackle.

He moved west after his father, Einer Otterson, a 1973 Albert Lea High School graduate, went looking for a job as a mail carrier elsewhere because there were no full-time openings in Albert Lea. Otterson joined him one year later with a dream and the opportunity.

“My dad saw the kind of opportunities there was for football in a bigger city with bigger divisions,” Otterson said. “We thought I could go out there and get a little more exposure.”

The move wasn’t easy.

“It was really, really tough,” Otterson said. “I didn’t want to go. I still had friends (in Albert Lea) and really wanted to be a part of the community. It was home and all I knew.”

According to Otterson, though, things have worked out, and that’s hard to argue.

Otterson played at Thornton High School in Thornton, Colo., where he was an all-conference defensive end and played tight end until his junior year. His senior year, his coach, Pete Vargas, moved him to offensive tackle because he thought there was a better opportunity Otterson would be noticed there. He was right.

Otterson was recruited by Colorado, Colorado State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Utah, before ultimately signing with Wyoming.

After redshirting his freshman year of college, Otterson was a three-year starter for Wyoming, gained national attention and was contacted by his current agent, Kevin Van Ry, the summer before his senior year. He was working on a presentation for school April 24, the third night of the NFL draft, when Van Ry called him in the middle of the sixth round. The Chargers wanted to sign him.

“I honestly went into (the draft) with no expectations,” Otterson said. “I said ‘whatever happens, happens. I’m graduating college so if nothing happens it’s not a big deal.'”

But something did happen, and Otterson is going to take advantage.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Otterson said. “I’m going to put everything I can into it.”

While other NFL teams were also interested in Otterson, including Arizona, Miami, Atlanta and the New York Jets, Van Ry chose San Diego for his client.

“The Chargers were the best fit,” Otterson said. “Looking at the roster, the opportunity, plus the way they develop their guys.”

Otterson signed a two-year deal that doesn’t go into effect until he makes the 53-man roster or the practice squad. With over 70 players still vying for roster spots, competition is steep and Otterson has his work cut out for him, but is taking it one snap at a time.

“The biggest thing is to take it day-by-day,” he said. “You can’t get caught up in a week of month later, but when a guy does get cut then there’s some realization that it could happen to you any day.”

Otterson is currently living in a Holiday Inn in San Diego with the other Chargers rookies. He will report to training camp July 25 in hopes of outlasting the other rookies and making the team.

Otterson’s aunt, Val and grandfather, Raymond both live in Clarks Grove. His sister lives in Hopkins.