Post by elp525 on Sept 29, 2011 5:05:54 GMT -5
Thursday, September 29 2011
Chip Fontanazza
MetroNews Sports
In Morgantown, WVU junior wide receiver Tavon Austin is known as a super star on the college football gridiron. In the city of Baltimore, Maryland he’s known as a legend.
Austin had an illustrious high school career at Dunbar High School accumulating 9,258 total yards of offense, 7,962 rushing yards and 123 total touchdowns. All of those are Maryland records. He is a player all of the young football players in Maryland look up to and is one of the reasons why the Mountaineers have been successful recruiting in the state of Maryland.
2012 WVU verbal commitments Da’Quan Davis and Trevor Williams both go to Calvert Hall High School and have looked up to Austin since they were in middle school.
“He’s a super star,” said Williams. “This is basically his town and he’s well known around the city. I want to follow his footsteps and get my name out.”
“He was part of my decision also,” said Davis. “Just seeing a guy from Baltimore blowup like that. I just felt I could go down there and do the same. Make a name for myself.”
Williams will play receiver at West Virginia next season and will have one year to learn from Austin on the field. On the flip side, Davis will be playing against Austin in practice next season, which is a challenge he’s looking forward to.
“That’s going to be crazy doing one-on-ones with him,” said Davis. “I feel it’s going to help groom me and help me work on my craft and unlock my potential. I’m really excited.”
It would be unfair to say that Austin played a huge role in Williams and Davis choosing WVU, but he certainly had a significant impact. The Baltimore legend didn’t give them much advice during the recruiting process, but the fact that Austin chose West Virginia over many of the surrounding Division I schools, including Maryland, was an eye opener to all of the football players in charm city.
Austin was a player every kid in Baltimore wanted to be like and choosing WVU was a bit of a shock, but it’s one that area will never forget because everyday they are reminded about the shifty super star.
“It’s just Tavon Austin, Tavon Austin, Tavon Austin,” said Davis. “Did you watch the game last week? Did you see Tavon score? He really has set his name in stone in Maryland.”
“He put in the work, he put in the hard hours and the time to get himself where he is now so I think he deserves it,” continued Davis.
Calvert Hall head coach Donald Davis watched Austin play when he was little and even then everyone knew he was going to be a star. He says the impact Austin has made in Baltimore is unbelievable.
“Very seldom does one kid represent an entire area,” said Coach Davis. “Tavon Austin has represented Baltimore city on a national stage, not just at West Virginia and what he does on campus [and] what he does in the classroom and on the field, but he’s taken Baltimore city and this surrounding area to a national stage.”
“Here’s a kid that a lot of people knew through youth football that everybody really watched grow up in high school as a four-year varsity starter,” continued Coach Davis. “I could not be more proud about what he’s been able to do at West Virginia both on the field and off the field.”
Three years ago Austin’s commitment to WVU was something few people saw coming, but it was a commitment that will keep Mountaineer football in the eyes of all the Baltimore recruits.
Chip Fontanazza
MetroNews Sports
In Morgantown, WVU junior wide receiver Tavon Austin is known as a super star on the college football gridiron. In the city of Baltimore, Maryland he’s known as a legend.
Austin had an illustrious high school career at Dunbar High School accumulating 9,258 total yards of offense, 7,962 rushing yards and 123 total touchdowns. All of those are Maryland records. He is a player all of the young football players in Maryland look up to and is one of the reasons why the Mountaineers have been successful recruiting in the state of Maryland.
2012 WVU verbal commitments Da’Quan Davis and Trevor Williams both go to Calvert Hall High School and have looked up to Austin since they were in middle school.
“He’s a super star,” said Williams. “This is basically his town and he’s well known around the city. I want to follow his footsteps and get my name out.”
“He was part of my decision also,” said Davis. “Just seeing a guy from Baltimore blowup like that. I just felt I could go down there and do the same. Make a name for myself.”
Williams will play receiver at West Virginia next season and will have one year to learn from Austin on the field. On the flip side, Davis will be playing against Austin in practice next season, which is a challenge he’s looking forward to.
“That’s going to be crazy doing one-on-ones with him,” said Davis. “I feel it’s going to help groom me and help me work on my craft and unlock my potential. I’m really excited.”
It would be unfair to say that Austin played a huge role in Williams and Davis choosing WVU, but he certainly had a significant impact. The Baltimore legend didn’t give them much advice during the recruiting process, but the fact that Austin chose West Virginia over many of the surrounding Division I schools, including Maryland, was an eye opener to all of the football players in charm city.
Austin was a player every kid in Baltimore wanted to be like and choosing WVU was a bit of a shock, but it’s one that area will never forget because everyday they are reminded about the shifty super star.
“It’s just Tavon Austin, Tavon Austin, Tavon Austin,” said Davis. “Did you watch the game last week? Did you see Tavon score? He really has set his name in stone in Maryland.”
“He put in the work, he put in the hard hours and the time to get himself where he is now so I think he deserves it,” continued Davis.
Calvert Hall head coach Donald Davis watched Austin play when he was little and even then everyone knew he was going to be a star. He says the impact Austin has made in Baltimore is unbelievable.
“Very seldom does one kid represent an entire area,” said Coach Davis. “Tavon Austin has represented Baltimore city on a national stage, not just at West Virginia and what he does on campus [and] what he does in the classroom and on the field, but he’s taken Baltimore city and this surrounding area to a national stage.”
“Here’s a kid that a lot of people knew through youth football that everybody really watched grow up in high school as a four-year varsity starter,” continued Coach Davis. “I could not be more proud about what he’s been able to do at West Virginia both on the field and off the field.”
Three years ago Austin’s commitment to WVU was something few people saw coming, but it was a commitment that will keep Mountaineer football in the eyes of all the Baltimore recruits.
