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always had a gift for throwing footballs.

As a junior last season, his cannon arm helped him throw for 2,484 yards and 22 touchdowns.

But Ottensmeyer still needed to improve his intangibles, and Parkway West head coach Jeff Duncan had a unique idea.

“I challenged him to watch the second season of ‘Quarterback’ on Netflix,� Duncan said. “I think it’s interesting to watch the guys at the highest level battle through different things and experience successes and failures.�

The popular Netflix series follows three NFL quarterbacks throughout an entire season. Its deep dives into their lives give viewers a unique perspective of what it’s like to be the most important player at the highest level of football.

While Ottensmeyer was productive through the air last season, he also threw 12 interceptions. he threw an interception in all but one of them, which made Duncan’s specific advice all the more pertinent.

One episode Duncan wanted Ottensmeyer to key in on featured Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. In a road tilt against the Houston Texans, Goff threw five interceptions. However, Goff led the Lions to a 16-point comeback victory in the second half, connecting on a few big-time throws late in regulation. Goff became the third NFL quarterback in the last 30 years to win a game in which they threw at least five interceptions.

“That’s the type of person you’re always trying to be like,� Duncan remembers telling Ottensmeyer. “You can be upset, you can talk to yourself. But when it’s time to go back out there, it is a new game and new play. It’s a new opportunity for you.�

Sure enough, Ottensmeyer flew through the second season of ‘Quarterback.' Along with a handful of other offseason improvements, he has made great leaps as he prepares for the rigors of Division I football.

Ottensmeyer, the No. 26 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects, verbally committed in June to play for Missouri State.

From a leadership perspective, Ottensmeyer vastly improved last season, his first as Parkway West’s full-time starter. That started at a preseason jamboree, where he was presented with his first opportunity to take the reins of the Longhorns offense.

“I started to be a little more demanding,� Ottensmeyer said. “I think the guys received it well.�

The players weren’t the only ones pleased with his newfound voice.

“He is leading,� Duncan remembers excitedly telling the coaching staff at that jamboree. “He’s encouraging. He’s instructing. He’s picking guys up. It was really neat to see that last year.�

While he isn’t exactly a volcano of energy, Ottensmeyer’s alter ego could resemble something close to a computer.

Longhorns defensive coordinator Peter Boyer has experienced it plenty in practice.

“There are periods of time where I’m like, ‘OK, we’re going to run some coverages today he hasn’t seen. I’m going to try to trick him,’ � Boyer said.

“What Brett does consistently is he will throw a player open. I haven’t coached against many kids like that in high school. I think it’s really rare. Or, he’ll identify what the coverage is fairly quickly and get the ball out before the route has gotten to the point that it’s open, and then he’ll throw the ball to where the route runner is open in that zone coverage.�

The 6-foot-4 Ottensmeyer also has made physical strides, gaining about 20 pounds of muscle to put his weight close to 200 pounds. He said he feels a lot more explosive, as he’s now able to throw the ball “probably 10 yards further� than he used to be able to do. Plus, the added strength helps him become more of a running threat as he can better absorb contact.

The added weight didn’t just come from hitting the gym. Along with frequent weightlifting, Ottensmeyer also altered his diet, consuming more calories while also being conscious of what he ate.

“Where Brett seems to stand out is he seems to be the one making that choice. That is rare,� Boyer said. “There are a lot of kids that have a solid background at home or have family members that played that really push them and tell them what to do. They’re doing it because they’re told to do it.

“With Brett, it really just seems to come from within. And then, it catches on, so then you have a group doing it. That’s uncommon.�

Along with Ottensmeyer’s return, West's offensive line brings back all five starters from last season.

When the first page of the 2025 season turns, Ottensmeyer will be a whole new quarterback. Whether it’s Netflix, dinner time or simply practice time, he has gone beyond the requisite steps that could help Parkway West to its first winning season since 2022.

“I definitely think we have the talent this year. We have a lot of seniors,� Ottensmeyer said. “I think we could definitely win a district championship this year if we can put all the pieces together.�