Otto Pommerening

Who was Otto Pommerening?

Otto P. Pommerening was an All-American football player for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1927-1928. He was a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

During the 1928 season, Pommerening became the first player in the history of the Big Ten Conference to play every minute of every game for his team. One wire service report noted that he set the endurance record despite having suffered a severe head injury early in the season.

An Iowa newspaper credited Michigan's "big tackle" Pommerening as one of the players deserving credit in Michigan's 10-7 win over Iowa in 1928. The paper wrote that Pommerening "ripped wide holes in the Iowa line as Michigan started their winning drive."

Pommerening was a unanimous All-American for his play at tackle in 1928. In December 1928, the United Press named Pommerening to its All-American team at tackle, noting that Pommerening, "in a weak Michigan line stood out as the greatest in many a 'Big Ten' season." He was listed at 5 feet, 11 inches, and 178 pounds. Pommerening also finished fourth in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy, awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He also was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1928 Wolverines football team and is regarded as one of the best linemen ever to play for the Michigan Wolverines.