Hundreds gathered Saturday night outside UCF’s on-campus football stadium to honor the life of former Knights running back Otis Anderson Jr., who died tragically Monday night at the hands of his own father.
Friends, family and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers of Anderson, along with UCF fans, held a candlelight vigil to remember his life. Hearts were heavy at the event that was needed for those who knew Anderson and were shocked by his sudden passing at 23.
“Otis lived a short life, but I feel he did everything that God wanted him to do,” Denise Anderson, his mother, told the crowd in attendance. “He accomplished so much. He has taken himself and us as a family to the heights that I never, ever imagined.”
People in attendance lined up on both sides of a brick walkway while those close to Anderson held hands walking down the middle of IOA Plaza, similar to the UCF football tradition that is known as Knight Walk.
Prior to each home football game, UCF players walk down IOA Plaza and fans line up to cheer them on. Saturday’s event was described as Anderson’s “one last Knight Walk.”
Denise Anderson asked for continued support from those who attended.
“Please continue to pray for me, for my strength,” his mother said. “Please don’t stop.”
His father, Otis Anderson Sr., was booked into Duval County Jail and charged with first degree murder of his son and first-degree attempted murder of his wife, Denise Anderson, during his initial court appearance Tuesday morning.
Denise Anderson said she does not know why her husband of 25-plus years would do such a thing, but she is devastated because of what happened.
“We were not dysfunctional at all,” she said. “It’s very hard not to be angry. Otis was my everything. My husband was my everything. I don’t know what happened. I lost both of them all at the same time.”
According to police, Denise said her husband Anderson Sr. was bitten by their son’s girlfriend’s dog, which subsequently made him upset. All three got into a verbal altercation that quickly escalated, police said.
When officers arrived to the scene, they located Anderson Jr. suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the chest. Denise Anderson also was suffering from multiple graze wounds. Both were transported to UF Health for treatment.
Anderson Jr. was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. His mother was treated and later discharged from the hospital, according to police.
Anderson was a key part of UCF’s success on the football field from 2017-20. He ranks ninth with 2,182 career rushing yards. Known for making electric plays, his 3,708 all-purpose yards rank eighth all-time at UCF.
He was an important member of UCF’s undefeated season in 2017 that was capped by a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
“He graduated high school and he wanted to come to UCF. When he came, I felt so safe with him [at UCF],” his mother said. “He was back-to-back state champs high school, he came to college and did the same thing. We played Auburn and beat them. ... I thought I won the Super Bowl. I was so proud.”
A number of former Knights attended the vigil as well. Following the Knight Walk, former UCF tight end Anthony Roberson, a close friend of Anderson, described who he was as a person.
“He was so insightful, wise, talented, and nurturing on any day of the week,” Roberson said. “Yeah, he might have been a good football player, but he was so much bigger than that. He was just getting started.”
Roberson recalled on the last time he spoke with Anderson, sharing a message to those in attendance as well.
“One of our last conservations, he said, ‘We’ve got to talk, bro.’ We were talking and he said we had to have conversation and we prolonged it, and never had that conversation again,” Roberson said. “If you’ve got anything to say to anybody, say it while they can hear it.
“I wish I could tell him I love him one more time.”
Denise Anderson thanked everyone for showing support to her family while remembering her son.
“Everybody who knew Otis, knew his heart. They knew he was real. I thank you for loving my son.”
Editor’s Note: Neither Otis Anderson Jr. nor Otis Anderson Sr. are connected in any way to Ottis Anderson, the MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 for the New York Giants who played college football at the University of Miami. Their first names are spelled differently and there is no family connection.
