Thomas Austin (American football)
Thomas Austin (born November 14, 1986) is a former American football center. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Clemson.
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| Georgia State Panthers | |||||||||
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| Position: | Offensive line coach | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 14, 1986 West Point, New York | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 310 lb (141 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Camden (SC) | ||||||||
| College: | Clemson | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2010 | ||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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He has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts.
Early years
Austin attended Camden High School in Camden, South Carolina, where he played every position along the offensive line. He was a four-year letterman in football, and played on the AAA state title team as a freshman offensive tackle. He was an all-county, all-region, and all-area selection as a junior and senior. As a senior, he was named the top offensive lineman in South Carolina by The State. He was also named to all-state teams by The State, High School Sports Report, and SCVarsity.com. He was the upstate Lineman of the Year as a senior, and a Shrine Bowl starter at offensive tackle. Rivals.com rated him among the top ten Shrine Bowl players, and as the No. 20 offensive guard in the nation and the ninth best prospect in South Carolina.
He was also a three-year letterman in wrestling in high school, posting a 66-4 career record. He won the AAA state title as a junior and was a state finalist and North/South All-Star as a senior.
College career
Austin chose to attend Clemson University over Maryland, Penn State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. He redshirted as a freshman in 2005 and was named the offensive scout team player of the year by the Clemson coaching staff. In 2006, Austin played 177 snaps, posting 22 knockdown blocks and three intimidation blocks. As a sophomore in 2007, he started 12 games, including four at right guard and eight at center. He led the team in knockdown blocks with 90 and in offensive snaps with 780. He was twice named Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week and was an honorable mention sophomore All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com.
In 2008, as a junior, Austin started 13 games and was three times named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while leading his team with 98 knockdown blocks. He was named to the All-ACC second team as a center after the season. In 2009, Austin started every game again as a senior co-captain, and was named to the All-ACC second team for a second straight season, this time as a guard. He was also named a third team All-American by Sporting News, and led his team with 112 knockdown blocks in 2009.
Professional career
Minnesota Vikings
After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, Austin signed with the Minnesota Vikings on April 24, 2010. He was waived by the team during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots signed Austin to their practice squad on September 29, 2010. He was re-signed to a future contract on January 20, 2011. He was waived on September 3.
Houston Texans
On September 4, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans. He was waived during cutdown day on September 1, 2012
Second stint with New England Patriots
The New England Patriots signed Austin to their practice squad on September 1, 2012. On October 2, 2012, Austins contract was terminated.[1]
Carolina Panthers
On October 11, Austin signed with the Carolina Panthers, one day after Panthers Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.[2] On July 22, 2013, Austin was waived by the Carolina Panthers.[3]
Indianapolis Colts
On August 1, 2013, Austin was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. After spending time on the practice squad, Austin was elevated to the active roster on December 21, 2013.[4]
Coaching career
Has served under Head Coach Dabo Swinney and Offensive Line Coach Robbie Caldwell as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Clemson since just prior to the Tigers bowl win over Oklahoma in December 2014. The 2015 Clemson Tigers started 14-0 including victories over then-#6-ranked Notre Dame, then-#16-ranked Florida State, then-#10-ranked North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game, and then-#4-ranked Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff Semifinal before losing to Alabama in the National Championship Game to finish 14-1. Clemson finished the season ranked #2 in the country.,[5][6]
The 2016 Tigers beat then-#3-ranked Louisville and then-#12-ranked Florida State as part of a 9-0 start before losing to Pitt. Bounced back to win every game thereafter, including the ACC Championship Game over then-#23-ranked Virginia Tech, the Fiesta Bowl and CFP Semifinal over then-#3-ranked Ohio State, and the National Championship game over previously unbeaten and then-#1-ranked Alabama. Clemson finished the season ranked #1, obviously.[7]
The 2017 Tigers defeated three ranked teams as part of a 6-0 start - (then-#13 Auburn, then-#14 Louisville, and then-#12 Virginia Tech) before a surprising, mid-season loss to unranked Syracuse. Clemson once again bounced back to reach the four-team College Football Playoffs - including wins over then-#20-ranked NC State, then-#24 South Carolina, and then-#7-ranked Miami in the ACC Championship Game - before losing to eventual National Champion Alabama in the Sugar Bowl/CFP Semifinal. The Tigers finished the season ranked #4.[8]
During his time as a Clemson grad assistant, the Tigers have gone 56-4 with 4 ACC Championships, 19 wins over ranked opponents (an amazing 19-2 record against ranked opponents), and two National Championships.
References
- http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4731371/source-mcclain-waived-austin-off-ps#comment
- http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-center-Austin/a239540e-1c3f-4820-9b3b-17bbbb974925
- Strickland, Bryan (July 23, 2013). "Rookies get jump on training camp". Panthers.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MAKE ROSTER MOVES
- http://www.chronicle-independent.com/archives/46370/
- http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228/year/2015
- http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228/year/2016
- http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228/year/2017